FIFA to boost club football in US ahead of World Cup 2026
Expect FIFA to boost club football with an expanded Club World Cup in the United States ahead of the World Cup 2026.
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FIFA TO BOOST CLUB FOOTBALL WITH EXPANDED CLUB WORLD CUP AMID POST-EUROPEAN SEASON
Expand FIFA to boost club football by staging an expanded Club World Cup amid a post-European season where players are barely recovering from wear and tear.
Furthermore, twelve stadiums across the US will stage the matches for this year’s FIFA Club World Cup starting on Sunday.
Moreover, host United States, Reuters reported, fielded Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, which topped the Major League Soccer’s regular season standings but lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Critics have described the move as FIFA’s desperate ploy to feature the Argentinian football great in the inaugural showpiece.
Messi and Inter Miami open their Club World Cup campaign against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahly at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on June 15.
CLUB FOOTBALL SHOWCASE AN APPETIZER BEFORE FIFA WORLD CUP 2026
FIFA is using this club football showcase as an appetizer before the World Cup 2026.
Moreover, several tickets are still available for the Inter Miami-Al Ahly match several days before the actual match.
Furthermore, the July 13 final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey still shows several tickets available.
Additionally, the tournament offers a USD125 million cash prize to the winning club.
The total prize pot is listed at USD1 billion.
Organizers secured a USD1-billion TV rights deal with sports streaming platform DAZN.
This just came six months before the tournament opens, leading to USD2 billion in expected revenues.
LIVERPOOL, BARCELONA, NAPOLI NOT PART OF CLUB WORLD CUP AMID GRUELLING EUROPEAN SEASON
Liverpool, Barcelona, or Napoli, which were crowned champions of three of the most prestigious leagues in Europe, were excluded from the Club World Cup.
Furthermore, Club Leon, which were named 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners, was also left out since they shared ownership with another qualifier.
Moreover, MLS’ Los Angeles FC took over Club Leon’s spot.
Meanwhile, global players union FIFPro took legal action against FIFA.
This came over a tournament that compresses recovery time for players who took part in the recently concluded European season.
FIFA also vowed to comply with the standard size of pitches and playing surfaces.
These earned criticism among players after last season’s Copa America in the US.
