Lionel Messi and Inter Miami now know their path for next year바카라s Club World Cup.
The host team 바카라 invited by FIFA to compete despite criticism from many in the soccer world 바카라 will play the tournament바카라s first match on June 15 against Egyptian club Al Ahly, as part of a group that will also feature Palmeiras and Porto. (More Football News)
Other opening matches include Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atletico Madrid and Brazilian club Botafogo playing at Major League Soccer바카라s Seattle Sounders in Group B; Monterrey against Inter Milan in Group E; and Real Madrid facing the Saudi club Al-Hilal 바카라 potentially a showdown pitting superstars Kylian Mbappé for Real Madrid and Neymar for Al-Hilal if the Brazilian great remains with that club.
바카라Anytime that you have certain things where soccer is big and you bring it to the U.S., it바카라s going to be a great atmosphere and entertaining,바카라 said baseball great Ken Griffey Jr., part of the Sounders바카라 ownership group.
His club will get the chance to play one of the world바카라s storied teams in PSG during group play.
바카라I바카라m going to leave that one alone,바카라 Griffey said, smiling.
The draw was held Thursday in Miami, with the 32 teams finally finding out their first three opponents in the newly expanded event.
The tournament will be held in the U.S. from June 15 to July 13, using 12 stadiums in 11 different cities. The final will be at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the same stadium that will play host to the 2026 World Cup final.
Among the powerhouse clubs in the field: Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan. There바카라s also the four highest-ranked teams from South America: Flamengo, Palmeiras, River Plate and Fluminense.
And Messi바카라s team, as a representative of the host nation, gets the distinction of playing the first match. It바카라ll happen at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
바카라It바카라s about inclusivity, it바카라s about bringing clubs from all over the world, the 32 best clubs and best players from all over the world together,바카라 FIFA President Gianni Infantino said.
Some would argue it바카라s not the 32 바카라best바카라 clubs. Inter Miami바카라s selection was widely panned by critics, the volume of that only rising after the team that won the Supporters Shield as the best MLS team in the regular season 바카라 with a record-setting point total 바카라 lost in Round 1 of the MLS Cup playoffs.
바카라There바카라s no controversy,바카라 Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas said.
Major League Soccer got two teams: Seattle and Inter Miami. The Sounders qualified for the field, and Inter Miami was placed into it as the host nation바카라s representative.
The club competition uses the traditional 32-team format used by the World Cup from 1998 to 2022. Eight round-robin groups of four teams each were drawn Thursday, with the top two from each group advancing to a knockout bracket of 16.
Europe got 12 spots and South America six to lead the field, while Africa, Asia and North America all got four 바카라 with Inter Miami essentially a fifth from North America since it has host status. Oceania got one spot.
바카라There is no rule that said the MLS Cup winner needs to be in the Club World Cup,바카라 MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. 바카라I have no interest in anything other than what I think is going to be best for the showcase, best for our league. I am supportive of the decision that FIFA made and I바카라m excited to put Miami and Seattle in a global media deal and be shown around the world.바카라
Mas said Inter Miami getting the privilege of playing the opening match of the tournament at home is 바카라a testament to our community, the soccer culture that바카라s here.바카라
바카라Who would have told us five years ago, with no club, that we바카라d be here today at a draw with the best teams in the world,바카라 Mas said. 바카라That바카라s what we aspire to. That바카라s what we dream of.바카라
The groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al-Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
