U.S. Hosting Club World Cup: Essential Details Summarized
Gear Up for the First-Ever XXL FIFA World Cup!
Football fans, get ready! The 2026 FIFA World Cup is making history, introducing an unprecedented XXL format with 48 national teams duking it out on the pitch. The tournament salutes off on June 14, as Inter Miami, led by global superstar Lionel Messi, takes on Egypt's Al Ahly. The grand champion will be crowned on July 13, at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
Who's Joining the Party?
Єurope hauls the majority of the participants, with 12 clubs qualifying through previous Champions League wins and ranking systems. Other powerhouses joining Bayern and Borussia Dortmund include FC Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Juventus Turin, FC Porto, Benfica Lisbon, and RB Salzburg. South America sends six teams, with four from Brazil. Africa, Asia, North/Middle America, and the Caribbean, as well as Oceania and host country spectators, will also be cheering on their respective teams.
Let the Games Begin!
The group stage kicks off with eight groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 16, where the knockout phase begins. There's no more third-place playoff.
Bankroll Check
The FIFA is doling out a staggering one billion US dollars in prize money to the participating clubs, with about half as appearance fees. The victorious team can pocket up to 125 million US dollars. The prizes are tiered, starting at two million US dollars for a group-stage win, up to 40 million for the champion.
Under Heavy Fire
Critics have piled on the XXL World Cup, voicing concerns about the physical and mental strain on players after a lengthy season. Jürgen Klopp has called it "useless." The European Leagues association and the players' union Fifpro have even lodged a complaint with the EU Commission.
Where to Watch
All 63 tournament games are available to stream for free on DAZN. Just sign up for the streaming service to catch the action. Games featuring FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund will also be broadcast on Sat.1, as well as on Joyn and "ran.de."
Trivia: Did you know that the XXL in the query actually refers to the expanded 48-team format? The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first to debut this sizeable format, not to be confused with previous FIFA Club World Cups. The next Club World Cup is slated for mid-2025 in the USA.
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