December 5th 2024.
Next summer, football fans around the world will be eagerly anticipating the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Today, the highly anticipated draw will determine the fate of the world's best teams as they compete for the coveted title. The tournament, which will run from June 15 to July 13, will be held in the United States and will feature 32 teams from all six continental confederations.
Among the teams vying for the top spot are Premier League sides Manchester City and Chelsea. Unfortunately, not all of the English giants will be participating, as the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool did not qualify for the tournament. But fear not, as there will still be plenty of top-tier talent on display.
For those looking to catch the draw, it will be aired at 6pm GMT from Miami, Florida. Fans in the UK can watch it on FIFA's channels, including their website and streaming service, as well as on DAZN. And for those unaware, Miami was chosen as the host city, granting the local team Inter Miami a spot in the tournament.
The teams have been divided into four pots, with Pot 1 consisting of powerhouses like Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. Chelsea, on the other hand, finds themselves in Pot 2 alongside Borussia Dortmund and Inter. Other notable teams in the draw include Boca Juniors, Juventus, and Red Bull Salzburg.
But how did these teams qualify for the Club World Cup? Well, clubs automatically earn a spot if they have won a continental competition within the last four seasons. In Chelsea's case, their recent Champions League victory secured their place in the tournament. The remaining spots are filled by the highest-ranking clubs in their respective continental rankings.
It's worth noting that FIFA rules state that a maximum of two teams from the same country can participate, which is why we won't be seeing Arsenal, Manchester United, or Liverpool in the competition. This also means that Chelsea and Manchester City, who have both won the Champions League in the past four years, will be representing England.
When it comes to the format of the tournament, the 32 teams will be divided into eight groups of four. Each team will play each other once, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stage. FIFA has also made it clear that no group can have more than one team from the same confederation, except for UEFA clubs, which will see four groups with two European teams.
Inter Miami, as the host team, will have the honor of playing in the opening match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. And for those who may be tempted to underestimate the competition, FIFA has made it clear that all participating clubs must bring their strongest squads to the tournament.
So mark your calendars and get ready for an exciting summer of football as the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup promises to be one for the books.
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