FIFA's flagship club football event has been expanded and had a $1bn prize pot thrown in to make it the highest profile that the tournament has ever been. There's plenty of problems around it, but as it's a summer without footy and I love the opportunity to watch all the random teams I don't get to see ordinarily, I'm going to be following this. This might be my ignorance, but I'm expecting to see 11 out of the 12 European teams in the last 16, with Salzburg the only departure in the groups. Porto maybe at risk if they don't take it seriously enough. The remaining teams coming out of the group will be largely Brazilian - Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense with River Plate and Al Hilal taking the last 2 spots in my opinion. The groups are as follows: Group A Palmeiras FC Porto Al Ahly Inter Miami Group B PSG Atletico Madrid Botafogo Seattle Sounders Group C Bayern Auckland City Boca Juniors Benfica Group D Flamengo ES Tunis Chelsea LAFC Group E River Plate Urawa Red Diamonds Monterrey Internazionale Group F Fluminense Dortmund Ulsan Mamelodi Sundowns Group G Man City Wydad Cassablanca Al Ain Juventus Group H Real Madrid Al Hilal Pachuca RB Salzburg Match times aren't ideal. From what I've seen the various UK kick off times are 17.00, 20.00, 23.00, 01.00 & 03.00. Match 1 is Al Ahly v Inter Miami at 01.00 tomorrow morning. There's 3 other games tomorrow though with PSG v Atletico at 20.00 being a potentially competitive game.
Daft question, but what determines who qualifies for it? Man City & Chelsea...no PL winner or FA Cup winner?
Continental championship winners (Champions League) over the last 4 years. Then teams at the top of the coefficient tables and then Inter Miami were invited because USA are hosting it but I think marketing factors (Messi) are at play there. It's going to be every 4 years so if you win the Champions League next season you are in the Club World Cup in 2029.
Insane amount of money involved in this tournament which I think could be detrimental to the game, especially outside of Europe. The African teams get 10m Dollars just for participating (each continent is different for some reason), which is more than double the money you get for WINNING the African Champions League. 2m Dollars per win and then high prize money for whatever stage you get to.
Don't think I'll watch any of this, just another money spinning comp that I just can't get behind Football is all about money these days, they don't care about the 'product' that's being delivered Silly money for the teams but that was the only way these teams would send their best squads It's a big no from me
Yeah, it will definitely be a factor in creating big franchises across the world (which might be the end game). Pyramids FC have taken the first step towards becoming that African franchise this year anyway after winning the African Champions League with the Saudi dollar. It'll be interesting to see what this does for Sundowns and Tunis espcially. In South America, we're already seeing the dominance of Brazil which will be exacerbated by this. Auckland City will make crazy money for an Oceania team, but then they've won their Champions League 11 of the last 13 times anyway.
Multiple injuries to key players for City and Chelsea would be just desserts, either way it can’t be good preparation for next season. Definitely not staying up for any of the group games but might watch the knock-out rounds.
FIFA and Infantino are as corrupt (if that could cause the site issues, please feel free to replace with 'misguided') as hell and are going to completely wreck the game. I don't normally subscribe to such hyperbole and hysteria, in fact I used to sneer at 'the game is broken' stuff but I've become so cynical and worn down and I don't see how this can end well. The direction of travel only sees things get worse - more money going to the wrong people and a total erosion of proper competition (which is what gives the sport it's appeal to most people, something FIFA (and UEFA and the Premier League etc) don't seem to realise or wilfully neglect in the pursuit of riches).
I will watch some, but not the 'big teams' I want to watch teams I've never seem before. Agree with it's all money driven though.
I'll definitely be watching though as long as the teams are taking it seriously. I'd say i'm more intrigued than excited though, I agree with the principle of the tournament as i've often thought that the Club World Cup in its old format didn't really work. I disagree with what the money will do to the game and i'm not sure the extra games will be good for the players. But football is football and I'd watch anything to be honest.
I was adamant I wasn't going to watch (based on the corruption of it all (the way the prize money found itself in FIFA's hands etc)) - but it already feels like an age since Wembley and I'm getting withdrawal (the international youth tournaments only scratch the itch so much) so I think I'll end up watching the UK time evening games. The end of the tournament segues nicely into our preseason games.
I'll only be watching as there's bugger all else on that I'm interested in, other than the darts and golf. Also want to see how Jobe gets on. I'd rather do the housework or ironing than wat h cricket or tennis though
