Sport

FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Everything you need to know

This new club competition – the FIFA Club World Cup 202 – will make its debut at a total of 12 stadiums across the United States

Published

2 hours ago

September 29, 2024

Ariana News

FIFA will launch an exciting new club tournament next year that will feature the world’s best 32 teams from the six international football confederations.

This new club competition - the FIFA Club World Cup 202 - will make its debut at a total of 12 stadiums across the United States with the final to be played at MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey.

The tournament will kick off on June 15 and end on July 13 next year.

This global event will bring together the most successful club sides from each of the six international confederations: AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC and UEFA.

A total of 12 venues will be used to host the 63 matches which will be played across the United States.

FIFA confirmed the 12 stadiums on Saturday. These are:

MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte), TQL Stadium (Cincinnati), Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), GEODIS Park (Nashville), Camping World Stadium (Orlando), Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia), Lumen Field (Seattle), and Audi Field (Washington, D.C.).

The final, on July 13, will be played at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey

FIFA President Gianni Infantino made the announcement in Central Park, New York and said: “Football is the most popular sport on the planet, and in 2025 a new era for club football will kick off when FIFA stages the greatest, most inclusive and merit-based global club competition right here in the United States.”

“The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will feature 12 fantastic stadiums where a new chapter in football’s global history will be written by great players from the 32 best clubs in the world,” Infantino continued.

“This new FIFA competition is the only true example in worldwide club football of real solidarity and inclusivity, allowing the best clubs from Africa, Asia, Central and North America and Oceania to play the powerhouses of Europe and South America in an incredible new World Cup which will impact enormously the growth of club football and talent globally,” he said.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino made the announcement in Central Park, New York

With the draw set for December, just two of the 32 teams are still to be confirmed: one from South America, the other representing the host country.

How many teams will take part in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, and how do they qualify?

A total of 32 teams will compete in the tournament, with places distributed as follows between the international football confederations.
Africa - 4 CAF teams. Three via champions pathway (CAF Champions League) and one via ranking pathway.
Asia - 4 AFC teams. Three via champions pathway (AFC Champions League) and one via ranking pathway.
Europe - 12 UEFA teams. Four via champions pathway (UEFA Champions League) and eight via ranking pathway.
North and Central America, Caribbean - 4 Concacaf teams. All via champions pathway (Concacaf Champions Cup).
Oceania - 1 OFC team. Via ranking pathway.
South America - 6 CONMEBOL teams. Four via champions pathway (CONMEBOL Libertadores) and two via ranking pathway.
Host country - 1 team.

Which teams have qualified?

Al Ahly (EGY) – 2020/21, 2022/23 and 2023/24 CAF Champions League
Wydad (MAR) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League
ES Tunis (TUN) - CAF ranking pathway
Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) - CAF ranking pathway
Al Hilal (KSA) – 2021 AFC Champions League
Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) – 2022 AFC Champions League
Al Ain (UAE) - 2023/24 AFC Champions League
Ulsan HD FC (KOR) - AFC ranking pathway
Chelsea (ENG) – 2020/21 UEFA Champions League
Real Madrid (ESP) – 2021/22 and 2023/24 UEFA Champions League
Manchester City (ENG) – 2022/23 UEFA Champions League
Bayern Munich (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) – UEFA ranking pathway
Inter Milan (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway
Porto (POR) - UEFA ranking pathway
Benfica (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway
Borussia Dortmund (GER) - UEFA ranking pathway
Juventus (ITA) - UEFA ranking pathway
Atletico Madrid (ESP) - UEFA ranking pathway
FC Salzburg (AUT) - UEFA ranking pathway
Monterrey (MEX) – 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup
Seattle Sounders (USA) – 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup
Club Leon (MEX) – 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup
Pachuca (MEX) - 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup
Auckland City (NZL) – OFC ranking pathway
Palmeiras (BRA) – 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores
Flamengo (BRA) – 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores
Fluminense (BRA) – 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores
River Plate (ARG) - CONMEBOL ranking pathway
Boca Juniors (ARG) - CONMEBOL ranking pathway

What is the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 format?

A group stage composed of eight groups of four teams per group playing in a single-game round-robin format.

The top two teams per group progress to the round of 16.

A direct single-match knockout stage from the round of 16 to the final.

No third-place play-off.

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Venezuela stun Spain while Paraguay down Afghanistan in knock-out stage of Futsal WC

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Venezuela stun Spain while Paraguay down Afghanistan in knock-out stage of Futsal WC

Venezuela and Paraguay have now secured their spots in the quarter-finals.

Published

3 days ago

September 26, 2024

Ariana News

Venezuela pulled off one of the biggest shocks in FIFA Futsal World Cup history on Wednesday night in Uzbekistan when they knocked out two-time champions, Spain, 2-1.

Paraguay in turn came from behind during their match to down Afghanistan in extra-time 3-1.

Afghanistan’s only goal was scored by Hamid Hossaini.

Venezuela and Paraguay have now secured their spots in the quarter-finals.

Paraguay had however been en route to being victims of the spirited Afghanistan team but rallied at the 11th hour to pull off their win.

Paraguay will next play the winner of the Thailand-France match, while Venezuela will encounter Ukraine.

“It’s hard to even describe these emotions. It’s my fourth World Cup, it could be my last. I’m really, really happy. But it hasn’t finished and we want more: to be among the best four teams in the world,” said
Javier Adolfo Salas, Paraguay pivot, after the match.

Thursday’s lineup will see Morocco face Iran this evening followed by the Portugal vs Kazakhstan match.

Futsal fans across Afghanistan can tune in on Thursday to watch the match on Ariana Television live from 5.30pm.

Sport

Futsal World Cup: Afghanistan going in to game against Paraguay ‘to win’

Afghanistan played Paraguay in a friendly in Tashkent ahead of the start of the World Cup. They tied 2-2

Published

4 days ago

September 25, 2024

Ariana News

Afghanistan will face Paraguay tonight, Wednesday September 25, in their Round of 16 match in this year’s Futsal World Cup.

This is Afghanistan’s debut in the tournament while Paraguay is a seven-time participant.

Ranked 13th in the world, Paraguay was the top team in Group A.

Afghanistan is ranked by FIFA as 30th in the world.

The match will take place at the Homa Arena stadium in Tashkent and kicks off at 7.30pm.

Afghanistan played Paraguay in a friendly in Tashkent ahead of the start of the World Cup. They tied 2-2.

Speaking ahead of the match, Afghanistan winger Farzad Mahmoodi said: “Afghanistan’s presence in the top 16 teams of the 2024 World Cup is a great honor for the people of Afghanistan.

“We had a friendly match against Paraguay before the start of the World Cup, which ended in a 2-2 draw. We hope that tonight will be our night.

“With the support of our fans in Huma Arena, we will go into the game to win.”

Paraguay’s coach Carlos Chilavert meanwhile pointed out that the team knows Afghanistan are a force to be reckoned with.

“We know Afghanistan are very tough opponents. When we arrived here, we played a friendly against them and it was really even, really tough.

“They are a very hard-working team, with very good technical players. We know what we’re up against. We will have to be at our best if we want to have a chance of going through.”

Fans across Afghanistan can tune in to watch all the action on Ariana Television tonight. ATN is the official broadcaster of the tournament and is broadcasting matches live.

Sport

Afghan national cricket players return to Kabul after ODI series win against South Africa

The team claimed matches one and two in convincing fashion to take the Sharjah series bragging rights

Published

5 days ago

September 24, 2024

Ariana News

Afghanistan’s national cricket team returned to Kabul on Tuesday morning after sealing a historic ODI series win against South Africa.

Afghanistan sealed the series 2-1, making it the first time in history the team has not only secured a series win against South Africa - in any format - but it was also their first-ever series win over a top five ICC-ranked side.

The team claimed matches one and two in convincing fashion to take the Sharjah series bragging rights, winning the matches by six wickets (and with 144 balls to spare) and 177 runs respectively, bowling out the Proteas for scores of 106 and 134.

South Africa would go on to claim the third match in consolation, chasing down a target of just 170.

The Afghans are ninth on the ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings, with a rating of 82, fractionally behind Bangladesh (86).

Afghanistan meet South Africa again in their Champions Trophy group, alongside Australia and England from mid-February.