Final four in the AFC: Al Ain (UAE) - Al Hilal (KSA) Ulsan (KOR) - Yokohama F. Marinos (JAP) Final eight in UEFA: Arsenal - Bayern Munich Atletico Madrid - Dortmund Real Madrid - Man City PSG - Barcelona Final eight in Concacaf: Herediano (Costa Rica) - Pachuca (MEX) New England (USA) - Club America (MEX) Columbus (USA) - Tigres (MEX) Inter Miami (USA) - Monterrey (MEX) Final eight in CAF: Esperance (Tunisia) - ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast) Young Africans (Tanzania) - Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) TP Mazembe (DR Congo) - Petro de Luanda (Angola) Simba (Tanzania) - Al Ahly (Egypt) The main casualty in the CAF group stage was Wydad Casablanca.
Auckland City's new A-League city rivals have revealed their identity: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/auckland-fc-new-a-leagues-franchise-reveals-name-crest-and-playing-kit/CKAAUVM73RB4TIAGY5TVJVXYAM/#:~:text=Auckland FC crest&text=The club looks to represent,skyline and unique Sky Tower. Pretty uninspiring... It's been pretty silent on this competition. I'm guessing scheduling those play-in games is no easy feat. Especially in the Americas.
2024 finals coming up... 11/05 - Yokohama Marinos - Al Ain 2:1 18/05 - Espérance Tunis - Al Ahly 25/05 - Al Ain - Yokohama Marinos 25/05 - Al Ahly - Espérance Tunis 01/06 - Dortmund - Real Madrid (London) 01/06 - Pachuca - Columbus Crew (Pachuca) Sadly, CAF and AFC second legs overlap for an hour.
Mainz beat Dortmund 3:0 yesterday. I hate to say it, but that 15 (!) is starting to appear next to Real Madrid’s name. I will do my best to snatch up tickets for the Al Ain - Yokohama return leg (not on sale yet).
I remember years ago Dortmund upset Juventus when nobody thought that would happen. But yes, Madrid is the huge favorite and should win in London.
Yes, I was thinking the same thing that they previously upset the favourite in a CL final and - although they played that game in Germany - Juventus then were a heavier favourite than Real Madrid should be this year, at least based on this season's performances.
Pretty sure it was a Dortmund "B" side, no? Don't think they can be judged in a dead rubber game played a few days after they clinched a spot in the CL final. But yeah... they can be judged on being in 5th-place and never really in the title race this season. Madrid are obviously big favorites.
The FIFA Council met today but no update on this or the 2025 CWC: https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/news/articles/key-tournament-decisions-made-by-fifa-council They did set the approximate date for the Women’s CWC and mentioned an annual club competition in “non-CWC years”. I wonder if that logic is going to be extended to this “Intercontinental Cup”.
Espérance and Al Ahly played to a scoreless draw last night. The OFC final will also take place this month: 11/05 - Yokohama Marinos - Al Ain 2:1 18/05 - Espérance Tunis - Al Ahly 0:0 24/05 - OFC Champions League Final - TBD (Pirae) 25/05 - Al Ain - Yokohama Marinos 25/05 - Al Ahly - Espérance Tunis 01/06 - Dortmund - Real Madrid (London) 01/06 - Pachuca - Columbus Crew (Pachuca)
OFC CL Semis: Auckland - Magenta Pirae - Rewa I saw some highlights (FIFA+ covers it live, but horrible picture quality), and I am imagining what will Auckland players feel like when they likely face two world heavyweights next summer at big stadiums after playing amateurs in stadium with what it seems like wooden stands.
You mean the one-time Libertadores champion San Lorenzo? Hardly a Conmebol heavyweight, even less a world heavyweight.
WINNERS | Auckland City FC have made it a 12th OFC Men's Champions League title. 🏆🏆🏆Watch extended highlights and full match replays FREE on FIFA+https://t.co/BGIGG0PUWg#OMCL pic.twitter.com/DbisJXU2UV— Oceania Football Confederation (@OFCfootball) May 25, 2024 Much to my dismay I was not able to get my hands on tickets for Al Ain - Yokohama tonight. In spite of checking the ticketing website 3-4 times a day. All of a sudden there was a “sold out” announcement. I don’t think the tickets ever made it to the public.
Which was followed up by claiming third place over Concacaf’s Cruz Azul. Absolute world elite? - No. Impressive for a semi pro side? - Absolutely.
✨ 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀 ✨ 🇦🇪 Al Ain are the 2023/24 #ACL champions!#AINvYFM | #ACLFinal pic.twitter.com/p6vlWMojpk— #ACL (@TheAFCCL) May 25, 2024 Al Ain came roaring back and beat Yokohama Marinos 5:1 in the second leg. It’s their first Asian title since 2003 and their second overall. We Are The Famous Al Ahly .. We Are The CHAMPIONS OF AFRICA 👊 pic.twitter.com/eDsk8maxmD— Al Ahly SC 🇬🇧 (@AlAhlyEnglish) May 25, 2024 Elsewhere, Al Ahly once again crowned themselves African champions. With a more modest 1:0 on aggregate. Their 12th title.
11/05 - Yokohama Marinos - Al Ain 2:1 18/05 - Espérance Tunis - Al Ahly 0:0 24/05 - AS Pirae - Auckland City 0:4 (Pirae) 25/05 - Al Ain - Yokohama Marinos 5:1 25/05 - Al Ahly - Espérance Tunis 1:0 01/06 - Dortmund - Real Madrid (London) 01/06 - Pachuca - Columbus Crew (Pachuca) UEFA: TBD CONMEBOL: TBD CONCACAF: TBD AFC: Al Ain Football Club (UAE) CAF: Al Ahly Football Club (Egypt) OFC: Auckland City Football Club (New Zealand)
They won two titles - one was in first Champions League edition, the other was in last Champions League edition. Next season sees Champions League rebranded to Champions League Elite with new format.
HEY! @dinamo_zagreb @glennaldo_sf @Nico Limmat I'm lookin' at you three: No one - and I mean, NO ONE - makes me do my own homework ... It's light on details, other than noting that the Asian Champions League Elite will continued to be played in "two regions" - I presume, meaning that the East/West split will remain. I am disappointed that they went with "AFC Challenge League" instead of "Asian Champions League 3 & Knuckles".
That stupid Champions League "Elite" branding won't stick (and seriously, what is that name for the second tier? "El Dos"?). Whoever did the marketing consultancy on this one robbed the AFC. And the final eight tournament in a central location won't work. But the big Saudi clubs are getting the Asian title on a silver platter the next two years. Makes the Al Ain win this year all the more gratifying - after taking out Al Nassr and Al Hilal.
Not directly relevant, but Olympiakos won the UEFA Conference League last night over Fiorentina. It was the first European title ever for a Greek side. It’s also the first time a club from a league outside the “Big 5” won a European final since Porto in the 2010-2011 Europa League. The only goal was scored by Moroccan Ayoub El Kaabi. Adding on Al Ain’s Soufiane Rahimi, which will be the next key Moroccan in a continental final? Oussama Idrissi (Pachuca)? @Paul Calixte
Let’s see if Dortmund can give Real Madrid a game after all. With Gregor Kobel I have some Swiss rooting interest. I also watched in 1997 when a certain Stephane Chapuisat lifted the trophy with Dortmund.
Dortmund were better for the first 60 minutes and even hit the post, but Real improved in the final half an hour when they eventually scored twice.