Benfica and FC Porto will participate in the first edition of the new football club World Cup, which will take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025, the FIFA Council announced on Sunday.
During a meeting on the sidelines of the 2023 Club World Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, before the semi-finals on Monday and Tuesday, FIFA confirmed the participation of the two Portuguese clubs, based on UEFA’s rankings for the past four year. .
Likewise, six more European teams will be in attendance, with the Germans of Bayern Munich, the French of Paris Saint-Germain and the Italians of Inter Milan already confirmed.
Europe will have a total of twelve representatives, as the last four champions will also participate, the English from Chelsea (2020/21) and Manchester City (2022/23) and the Spaniards from Real Madrid (2021/22), while the remaining winner from 2023/24.
FIFA also confirmed two of the five representatives from Africa, Al Ahly and Wydad, two of the five from Asia, Al Hilal and Urawa Red Diamonds, three of the four from CONCACAF, Monterrey, Seattle Sounders and Léon, and the Oceania team , Auckland City.
As for South America, there will be six teams, three of which are Brazilian teams already confirmed: Palmeiras, by Abel Ferreira, Flamengo and Fluminense, and to complete the lineup of 32 teams, a team from the host country will also be chosen.
The competition includes an initial group stage, with eight groups of four teams, qualifying for the knockout stages (round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final), with one match, with the first two teams from each grouping playing.
“Clubs play a fundamental role in the world of football and the 2025 Club World Cup will be an important milestone, providing the emblems of all confederations with a suitable platform to shine at the highest level,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
According to the top leader of the organization that oversees world football, this new competition will be “open and based on sporting merit”, with the aim of “making football truly global”.
The FIFA Council has also announced the organization, from 2024, of an annual FIFA Intercontinental Cup, in which, on neutral ground, the winner of the UEFA ‘Champions’ will face the winner of a ‘play-off’ between the champions of the UEFA. other confederations.
The first final is on December 18, 2024.
Source: DN
