- FIFA announces a revamped 32-team Club World Cup set for June 15 to July 13, 2025, to be hosted in the United States.
- The new tournament is part of FIFA’s broader expansion plans and follows the unanimous decision to appoint the United States as the inaugural host.
- A newly introduced annual Intercontinental Cup is scheduled to debut in 2024, featuring UEFA Champions League winners against teams from intercontinental playoffs.
- The Intercontinental Cup playoffs are slated for December 14, 2024, with the final scheduled for December 18.
- The 2025 Club World Cup will adopt a World Cup-style format with eight groups of four, advancing top two teams to the knockout stages.
- The existing seven-team Club World Cup, held annually, will be discontinued after the ongoing tournament in Saudi Arabia.
- Criticism arises from global players’ union FIFPro and the World Leagues Forum, representing 44 professional leagues, citing concerns about player health, workload, and the impact on national leagues.
- Premier League chief Richard Masters expresses dissatisfaction with FIFA’s decision-making process, citing overlooked stakeholders and potential disruptions to player availability and well-being.
- The June-July schedule raises concerns about European teams’ limited rest time between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, impacting the traditional football calendar.
- FIFPro emphasizes a lack of consideration for players’ physical and mental health, highlighting potential exhaustion, injuries, mental health issues, and risks to career longevity.
Question: What is the key feature of the 2025 Club World Cup format according to the announcement?
A) Single-elimination knockout rounds
B) Group stage with eight groups of four teams
C) Round-robin format with seven participating teams
D) Two-legged semi-finals and finals
Answer: B) Group stage with eight groups of four teams
