Two Luxembourgers are part of the « new era of football »

Benfica is already there, the Los Angeles FC anyway. Leandro Barreiro And his team from Lisbon opened their quarters for the World Club Championship in the Waters Sportsplex in Tampa (Florida). The hotel was converted « into a small Benfica campus », as the club writes on its website. Maxime Chanot and his teammates are preparing for their first group game in Atlanta. The tournament begins in the night of Sunday, and the final is on the program on July 13th.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced a « new era of football » before the start of his heart. « It is a bit like 1930 when the first World Cup started, » said the head of the World Football Association: « Today everyone is talking about the very first World Cup. That is why this World Cup is also historical here. »

How does the tournament work?

63 games, 32 participants, twelve stadiums-the FIFA’s World Cup premiere in XXL format not only takes 30 days, it also breaks down standards. On Sunday (2 a.m.), Inter Miami opens the Mammut tournament with the world star Lionel Messi against Egypt Top Association Al-Nahry. On July 13th, the champion will be chosen in the Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford. The NFL teams New York Giants and New York Jets stadium will also be the scene of the final at the first World Cup with 48 national teams in the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026.

Who plays along?

Europe provides the majority of the participants with twelve. A maximum of two per country could qualify here, using Champions League victories in the past four years and one ranking. In addition to Benfica, Porto, Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, FC Bayern, Dortmund, Inter Milan, Juventus Turin and Salzburg. Six participants come from South America, including four from Brazil (Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo). The confederations of Africa, Asia and North/Central America/Caribbean each provide four clubs. Added to this are Auckland City from Oceania and Inter Miami as an additional club from the host country.

How does the group phase for Benfica and LAFC work?

Barreiro and Benfica play their opening game in Group C on Tuesday (0 a.m.) in Miami against Boca Juniors from Argentina. On Friday (6 p.m.) there is a duel in Orlando with the stark outsider Auckland City from New Zealand. On June 24th (9pm) it will be in Charlotte against FC Bayern. Los Angeles and Chanot start in Group D on Monday (9 p.m.) in Atlanta against Chelsea. Then they play on Tunis from Tunisia in Nashville on June 21st (0 a.m.) and on June 25th (3 a.m.) in Orlando against Flamgo from Brazil.

How is the mode?

The group phase is played with eight groups with four teams each. The two best teams reach the round of 16. By the finale, the knockout mode continues. There is no third place.

Who are the favorites?

It is generally expected that the winner will come from Europe. Paris Saint-Germain must be the first candidate if the team of Luis Enrique the Gala Form of Champions League final triumph against Inter Milan (5: 0) can preserve. Real Madrid with the new coach Xabi Alonso, Manchester City with goal scorer Erling Haaland and Bayern also want to do it much better than recently in Europe’s premier class.

What can the clubs earn?

In total, FIFA releases one billion US dollar (880 million euros) of prize money for the participants, a good half of them as inaugural money. The winner can collect up to $ 125 million. The bonuses are staggered: there is two million US dollars for a victory in the group phase. From the round of 16 (7.5 million), the sum increases to the quarter -finals (13.125 million) and semi -finals (21 million) to the finalist (30 million) and the winner (40 million).

What criticism is there of the XXL World Cup?

In view of the full schedule, the physical and mental stress of the professionals is particularly critical after a long season. The former Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp therefore called the tournament « useless ». The unification of the European leagues has submitted a complaint to the EU Commission with the FIFPRO player union.