This year`s summer football landscape will feature a significant new addition: the FIFA Club World Cup. Making its debut in an expanded format, the tournament will be held in the United States, bringing together 32 teams from around the world to compete for a share of a substantial prize pool.
The revamped competition includes numerous high-profile participants, ranging from UEFA Champions League victors like Paris Saint-Germain to major South American clubs such as Boca Juniors. Each team aims for a deep run. European teams constitute the largest contingent with 12 entries, while South America contributes six. Four teams each come from Asia and Africa. North America is represented by five clubs, three of which are from MLS. Oceania holds one spot, filled by Auckland City, the tournament`s sole amateur side.
While the fundamental goal is victory for all, the stakes and narratives vary. Underdogs like Lionel Messi`s Inter Miami and Al-Hilal, managed by Simone Inzaghi, will look to challenge the dominance expected from European sides. Meanwhile, clubs crossing the Atlantic, including powerhouses such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Inzaghi`s former club Inter Milan (who finished their domestic and continental seasons without trophies and view this as a final chance for silverware), are under pressure to perform strongly.
As the competition is set to begin, here is the comprehensive schedule:
All times U.S./Eastern
Saturday, June 14
Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami, 8 p.m., Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
Sunday, June 15
Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City, 12 p.m., TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
PSG vs. Atletico Madrid, 3 p.m., Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Palmeiras vs. Porto, 6 p.m., MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Botafogo vs. Seattle Sounders, 10 p.m., Lumen Field, Seattle
Monday, June 16
Chelsea vs. LAFC, 3 p.m., Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Boca Juniors vs. Benfica, 6 p.m., Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
Flamengo vs. Esperance de Tunis, 9 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Tuesday, June 17
Fluminense vs. Borussia Dortmund, 12 p.m., MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds, 3 p.m., Lumen Field, Seattle
Ulsan HD vs. Mamelodi Sundowns, 6 p.m., Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando
Monterrey vs. Inter, 9 p.m., Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Wednesday, June 18
Manchester City vs. Wydad AC, 12 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal, 3 p.m., Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
Pachuca vs. Salzburg, 6 p.m., TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
Al Ain vs. Juventus, 9 p.m., Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
Thursday, June 19
Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly, 12 p.m., MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Inter Miami vs. Porto, 3 p.m., Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Seattle Sounders vs. Atletico Madrid, 6 p.m., Lumen Field, Seattle
PSG vs. Botafogo, 9 p.m., Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Friday, June 20
Benfica vs. Auckland City, 12 p.m., Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando
Flamengo vs. Chelsea, 2 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
LAFC vs. Esperance de Tunis, 6 p.m., GEODIS Park, Nashville
Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors, 9 p.m., Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Saturday, June 21
Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Borussia Dortmund, 12 p.m., TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
Inter vs. Urawa Red Diamonds, 3 p.m., Lumen Field, Seattle
Fluminense vs. Ulsan HD, 6 p.m., MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
River Plate vs. Monterrey, 9 p.m., Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Sunday, June 22
Juventus vs. Wydad AC, 12 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Real Madrid vs. Pachuca, 3 p.m., Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
Salzburg vs. Al Hilal, 6 p.m., Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
Manchester City vs. Al Ain, 9 p.m., Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Monday, June 23
Seattle Sounders vs. PSG, 3 p.m., Lumen Field, Seattle
Atletico Madrid vs. Botafogo, 3 p.m., Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras, 9 p.m., Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Porto vs. Al Ahly, 9 p.m., MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Tuesday, June 24
Auckland City vs. Boca Juniors, 3 p.m., GEODIS Park, Nashville
Benfica vs. Bayern Munich, 3 p.m., Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
LAFC vs. Flamengo, 9 p.m., Camping World Stadium, Orlando
Esperance de Tunis vs. Chelsea, 9 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Wednesday, June 25
Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD, 3 p.m., TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense, 3 p.m., Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
Inter vs. River Plate, 9 p.m., Lumen Field, Seattle
Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Monterrey, 9 p.m., Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Thursday, June 26
Juventus vs. Manchester City, 3 p.m., Camping World Stadium, Orlando
Wydad AC vs. Al Ain, 3 p.m., Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
Al Hilal vs. Pachuca, 9 p.m., GEODIS Park, Nashville
Salzburg vs. Real Madrid, 9 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Saturday, June 28
1A vs. 2B, 12 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
1C vs. 2D, 4 p.m., Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
Sunday, June 29
1B vs. 2A, 12 p.m., Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
1D vs. 2C, 4 p.m., Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Monday, June 30
1E vs. 2F, 3 p.m., Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
1G vs. 2H, 9 p.m., Camping World Stadium, Orlando
Tuesday, July 1
1H vs. 2G, 3 p.m., Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
1F vs. 2E, 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
