Since the Libertadores has switched to a single-leg final in 2019, Brazil has won all six. But while the league membership has been a bit boring, the same cannot be said about the clubs. We have now had two first-time winners in a row with Fluminense and Botafogo. Which Brazilian club has never won and could be next?
I missed this, but apparently the OFC is planning to launch its own “super league” in 2026: https://www.oceaniafootball.com/exp...omed-as-ofc-professional-league-gathers-pace/ Potentially with teams in Australia and …. Hawaii.
Botafogo beat Internacional away last night and enter the final match day in the league needing a draw to secure the title. Given this final stretch of the season, I will be impressed if they reach the IC final against Real Madrid. Real of course have their own problems. With many injuries decimating them, they once again lost last night - to Athletic Bilbao. This Real looks vulnerable, but can Botafogo even reach the big game?
Pachuca kit for the IC: https://www.eluniversalhidalgo.com.mx/deportes/pachuca-sorprende-con-un-jersey-especial-para-la-copa-intercontinental-2024/ When Brazilian and Mexican clubs collided in FIFA competitions: https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments...cles/brazilian-mexican-clubs-fifa-tournaments I was at the Gremio - Pachuca match in Al Ain. It was a pretty cold night for UAE standards. Interesting fact: Japanese Keisuke Honda played for both, Pachuca and Botafogo in his career.
Apparently Pachuca are traveling to Doha today. Los Tuzos will be well rested for the Americas derby. Of course they have been resting for a month. Given the (difficult) 2025 CWC draw for Botafogo, this will be their best chance to become world champions. I wonder how many Botafogo fans will make the trip to Doha. Probably less than usual given that some will travel for the CWC instead in a few months.
Apparently Botafogo will travel to Doha right after their final league match against Sao Paulo today. Doesn't matter if they win the league. No time for celebration! https://www.footboom1.com/en/news/f...s-to-make-history-in-the-intercontinental-cup
Well, Botafogo pulled it off. They won their first Libertadores ever and first Brazilian league title in nearly 30 years all in the span of about a week. So all is wonderful in Botafogo land. But no time to rest - Qatar calling!
Botafogo arrived this (Tuesday) morning after 17 hours of travel. The game, of course, is as soon as Wednesday evening. Brutal. Whatever they accomplish in Doha is a bonus to an already incredible season. This also puts a bit of pressure on Pachuca. The Concacaf champions haven’t survived the first match since 2020.
beIN SPORTS to exclusively broadcast the final three matches of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024™ across 39 markets; https://www.beinsports.com/en-mena/...inental-cup-2024-across-39-markets-2024-12-10 beIN for most of us…
Kind of silly that this tournament isn't being listed as a FIFA Club World Cup - FIFA Club World Cup - Wikipedia. Instead it's its own thing, the "FIFA Intercontinental Cup" FIFA Intercontinental Cup - Wikipedia. Has it got its own trophy or is the same as the old version? Meanwhile, this summers event is listed as the true FIFA Club World Cup with the same trophy as the annual tournament Think it should be the other way around, this being the proper 2024 FIFA Club World Cup with this summer's event being more of a one off thing. Doesn't take away from this summer's tournament as it will garner interest either way. But I do think that it does make this tournament feel a little ahistoric and isolated branding it as something different than the good old annual FIFA World Cup.
Hard pass on that from Infantino: his entire sleight of hand is this Intercontinental Cup existing only in response to demand outside of Europe to keep an annual competition for confederation champs, while the 32-team extravaganza will be the official Club World Cup moving forward. We'll have a clearer idea of what their relationship will be when it comes time for FIFA to decide what to do with the 2025 Intercontinental Cup.
Scoreless at the half. Fairly balanced match. Pachuca forced to make a substitution due to injury just before halftime. [EDIT] Los Tuzos take the lead in the 50th minute! Idrissi with a nice goal.
The whole thing has been poorly executed. Ranging from the uneven format in the first two matches, to last minute announcements in general, and of course the overall rebranding confusion. I'm sure a number of Pachuca and Botafogo fans stayed away because of the overall lack of clarity. We still don't know the prize money involved and what the trophy looks like. Yep, I'm not convinced the annual format will continue after this year. I can't shake the feeling FIFA mainly played this to sell the 2025 CWC to sponsors and broadcasters as a "new" competition (Adidas and Coca-Cola did not agree). Once that motivation is gone, and with scheduling worse than ever, I can see it just being folded into the quadrennial format (which would also be the best outcome for statistics).
Could see this coming. Not enough rest for Botafogo. Had to risk it and start with some bench players.
And it ends 3:0. Pachuca crown themselves champions of the Americas and advance to face Al Ahly for the right to play Real Madrid. Yes, had they wrapped up the league one or two rounds before the end they could have rested some. Even travelled early and played the youth team in the league. But not like this. It's really the fault of your team - Palmeiras.
Well. They still would have had to field a team for the final game or two of the league. Not sure what that would looked like . Starters travel early but bench players stay ? Didn't know there was a "title" on the line on this game. FIFA is a joke ...
What a joke! Not to take anything from Pachuca, they deserved their win, but Botafogo were in a disadvantage.
Youth team. Remember when Liverpool played CWC and Carabao (League) Cup on consecutive days? In England and Qatar?
Just got back from the match... disappointing attendance tbh but it is a school night. Kind of nice to be able to get up close and have a lot of space, somewhat reminiscent of the old c19 days.... Mexican teams seem to like playing in here, as reminded me a lot of Tigres v Palmeiras match, I think the latter had a somewhat similar tight schedule I remember like Botafogo. Anyway, just the 2nd goal here...
Tigres over Palmeiras in the 2020 CWC semifinal? Or Necaxa over Real Madrid in penalty kicks in the 2000 3rd place game?