KYODO NEWS – 5 hours ago – 17:07 | Sports, All
The J-League’s Urawa Reds were drawn Thursday to face Italian heavyweights Inter Milan, Argentina’s River Plate and Mexico’s Monterrey in Group E for the new-look FIFA Club World Cup in the United States next year.
Previously held as an annual tournament of continental football champions, the expanded 32-club competition is set to take place every four years in a format similar to the FIFA World Cup for national teams.
Next year’s edition will be played in 11 U.S. cities from June 15 to July 13 and serve as a dress rehearsal for the FIFA World Cup to be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada the following year.
Three-time Asian Champions League winners Urawa, who most recently lifted the continental trophy in 2022, are one of four Asian teams along with South Korea’s Ulsan, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and current ACL holders Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates.
The top two teams from each of the eight groups will advance to the knockout phase of the tournament, which concludes with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13.
Reigning Club World Cup and English Premier League champions Manchester City have been drawn with Italy’s Juventus in Group G, current European champions Real Madrid are in Group H, while Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami are in Group A.
The draw in Miami was conducted by former Italy and Juventus great Alessandro Del Piero and included a prerecorded video address from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, in which he said “soccer is going through the roof.”
“I will try and be there. If I can, I would. We’ll see what happens,” Trump said.
Group A: Palmeiras (Brazil), Porto (Portugal), Al Ahly (Egypt), Inter Miami (United States)
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain (France), Atletico Madrid (Spain), Botafogo (Brazil), Seattle Sounders (United States)
Group C: Bayern Munich (Germany), Auckland City (New Zealand), Boca Juniors (Argentina), Benfica (Portugal)
Group D: Flamengo (Brazil), Esperance Sportive de Tunisie (Tunisia), Chelsea (England), Club Leon (Mexico)
Group E: River Plate (Argentina), Urawa Reds (Japan), Monterrey (Mexico), Inter Milan (Italy)
Group F: Fluminense (Brazil), Borussia Dortmund (Germany); Ulsan HD (South Korea), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Group G: Manchester City (England), Wydad (Morocco), Al Ain (United Arab Emirates), Juventus (Italy)
Group H: Real Madrid (Spain), Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Pachuca (Mexico), Salzburg (Austria)
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KYODO NEWS – 9 hours ago – 12:52 | Sports, All
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