News: 2025 FIFA Club World Cup: General [Multiple Rs]

Technically the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. We have now (almost certainly) established that it counts as a new competition. In spite of previous FIFA guidance issued in December last year.

 

Taco Bell strikes again.

 

What do you suggest for qualifying?

 

Up next, Palmeiras - Al Ahly.

For the third time in the last five years:

2020 CWC | Al Ahly - Palmeiras 0:0 / 3:2 PSO (Match for 3rd Place)
2021 CWC | Palmeiras - Al Ahly 2:0 (Semis)

Who will clinch the decider?

 

You said it best: "the narrative that Americans don't know or care about soccer". Hard to care about CWC matches when local sports outlets cannot cover it live.

*US media coverage* of CWC matches is scarce because FIFA made it financially inaccessible to US sports outlets. Similar to stadium tickets, FIFA went with price-gouging on TV rights, even so that Apple TV said "no thanks".

Then, FIFA ran desperately to his sugar-daddy PIF so DAZN could pay USD 1 billion for global broadcast rights.

Finally, US networks bought smaller packages from DAZN: TNT Sports bought 24 CWC matches, TelevisaUnivision purchased just 18.

Even in various South American countries, broadcasters are restricted from showing all CWC matches live.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_FIFA_Club_World_Cup#Broadcasting

AFC/CAF/Conmebol markets really care about CWC, but only when it satisfies their need for UEFA validation. I doubt that need for UEFA validation exist in US culture, at least not as high as it does in other markets.

 

Great fan turnout from both teams, given the weekday noon kickoff time.

 

Today is a US federal holiday: June 19th 1865, Army enforcement to abolish slavery in Texas... 30 months after it was ordered nationwide.

 

I think it's actually the same here in Europe. German and UK broadcasters (channel 5 and sat1) only broadcast a selection of games. You have to go online to DAZN to see all matches.

Here in The Netherlands it isn't broadcasted at all on TV. Just online.

 

IMO, despite the growth in the league, MLS teams are still constrained by salary just a little too much to build truly deep and competitive squads, particularly with the emphasis on competitive balance in the league rather than superclubs (except Miami). The league is much, much better than it used to be, and it's why MLS has suddenly started to be much more consistently competitive against all but the best sides in Liga MX after years of terrible results. But I would say that they are still $5 million to $10 million in player salaries away.

MLS fandom isn't quite strong enough to be price gouged on tickets either, especially since fans have 20+ other home matches to choose from with better pricing. And it's tough to really blame LAFC fans for not showing up to last minute matches on the East Coast. Seattle comes across as somewhat of a disappointment though.

 

Still no goals after five halves in Group A. Are they against the rules?

Hard-fought match. A little too hard-fought in terms of physical fouls. I smell a red card in the second half…

 

We finally have a goal in Group A, Palmeiras on the board with a header.

They almost took it away but it counts.

 

It’s an own goal actually…

 

yeah by Wessam Ali while Dari could have cleared it
and Lopes makes it 2 - 0 just now

 

Okay now we have a real goal on an excellent counter. 2-0 Palmeiras

 

Weather delay?

 

Nice counter by Palmeiras.

First goals seem to weigh heavy at this CWC. Has any team that scored the first goal lost a match? I don’t think so.

 

Bencharki, another former Wydad player is coming in. 4th former Wydad player to play in this CWC for another club

 

for a cloud ?

 

Right back Hany faulty on this one, can't be that far up for set piece if the CB go up

 

Yep. Match suspended.

What is this? Cricket?

 

and for a NFL match they can play in this kind of weather

 

I know, but while that feels like a loss, it isn’t.

 

It helps to play it on the "Gridiron", not a "field".