The summer football calendar is set to change this year with the introduction of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup. The first edition of this new format is taking place in the United States, bringing together 32 teams from across the globe to compete for a share of a significant $1 billion prize fund.
This revamped competition features numerous high-profile clubs. Participants range from UEFA Champions League titleholders like Paris Saint-Germain to prominent Argentine sides such as Boca Juniors, with each team aiming for a successful run deep into the tournament. European clubs represent the largest contingent, with 12 teams. South America has six representatives, while Asia and Africa each contribute four teams. North America is represented by five teams, including three from MLS. Oceania secures one spot, occupied by Auckland City, the sole amateur team in the competition.
While the overall objectives are similar, the pressure varies among teams. Underdogs such as Lionel Messi`s Inter Miami and Simone Inzaghi`s Al-Hilal look to make their mark in a tournament where European clubs are widely expected to dominate. Conversely, several major clubs from Europe, including Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Inzaghi`s former team Inter (who finished their recent domestic and continental campaigns without silverware and see this as a crucial final opportunity for a trophy before the season concludes), are under considerable pressure to meet high expectations.
As the tournament action unfolds, here is an overview of the completed matches and the upcoming schedule for the Club World Cup:
Saturday, June 14
Al Ahly 0, Inter Miami 0
Sunday, June 15
Bayern Munich 10, Auckland City 0
PSG 4, Atletico Madrid 0
Palmeiras 0, Porto 0
Botafogo 2, Seattle Sounders 1
Monday, June 16
Chelsea 2, LAFC 0
Boca Juniors 2, Benfica 2
Flamengo 2, Esperance de Tunis 0
Tuesday, June 17
Fluminense 0, Borussia Dortmund 0
River Plate 3, Urawa Red Diamonds 1
Mamelodi Sundowns 1, Ulsan HD 0
Monterrey 1, Inter 1
Wednesday, June 18
Manchester City 2, Wydad AC 0
Real Madrid 1, Al-Hilal 1
Salzburg 2, Pachuca 1
Juventus 5, Al Ain 0
Thursday, June 19
Palmeiras 2, Al Ahly 0
Inter Miami 2, Porto 1
Atletico Madrid 3, Seattle Sounders 1
Botafogo 1, PSG 0
Friday, June 20
Benfica 6, Auckland City 0
Flamengo 3, Chelsea 1
Esperance de Tunis 1, LAFC 0
Bayern Munich 2, Boca Juniors 1
Saturday, June 21
Borussia Dortmund 4, Mamelodi Sundowns 3
Inter 2, Urawa Red Diamonds 1
Fluminense 4, Ulsan HD 2
River Plate 0, Monterrey 0
Sunday, June 22
Juventus 4, Wydad AC 1
Real Madrid 3, Pachuca 1
Salzburg 0, Al Hilal 0
Manchester City 6, Al Ain 0
Monday, June 23
PSG 2, Seattle Sounders 0
Atletico Madrid 1, Botafogo 0
Inter Miami 2, Palmeiras 2
Porto 4, Al Ahly 4
Tuesday, June 24
Auckland City 1, Boca Juniors 1
Benfica 1, Bayern Munich 0
LAFC 1, Flamengo 1
Chelsea 3, ES Tunis 0
Wednesday, June 25
Borussia Dortmund 1, Ulsan 0
Mamelodi Sundowns 0, Fluminense 0
Inter 2, River Plate 0
Monterrey 4, Urawa Red Diamonds 0
Thursday, June 26
Manchester City 5, Juventus 2
Al Ain 2, Wydad 1
Al Hilal vs. Pachuca, 9 p.m., GEODIS Park, Nashville
Salzburg vs. Real Madrid, 9 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Saturday, June 28
Palmeiras vs. Botafogo, 12 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Benfica vs. Chelsea, 4 p.m., Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
Sunday, June 29
PSG vs. Inter Miami, 12 p.m., Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Flamengo vs. Bayern, 4 p.m., Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Monday, June 30
Inter vs. Fluminense, 3 p.m., Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
Manchester City vs. 2H, 9 p.m., Camping World Stadium, Orlando
Tuesday, July 1
1H vs. Juventus, 3 p.m., Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
Dortmund vs. Monterrey, 9 p.m., Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Friday, July 4 (Quarterfinals)
TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m., Camping World Stadium, Orlando
TBD vs. TBD, 9 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Saturday, July 5 (Quarterfinals)
TBD vs. TBD, 12 p.m., Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
TBD vs. TBD, 4 p.m., MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Tuesday, July 8 (Semifinal)
TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m., MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Wednesday, July 9 (Semifinal)
TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m., MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Sunday, July 13 (Final)
TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m., MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford