2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup: Tournament News & General Discussion [R]

The Asian final is tonight...

 

𝗙𝗧 | 🇸🇦 Al Ahli 2️⃣-0️⃣ Kawasaki Frontale 🇯🇵

Dream realised. Al Ahli shine on home soil to be crowned the #ACLElite champions for the first-time ever!#ACLEliteFinal pic.twitter.com/EBrNMnzXxb

— #ACLElite | #ACLTwo (@TheAFCCL) May 3, 2025

 

Congrats to Al Ahli for their first ever Asian trophy! Regardless of the controversies surrounding this tournament, they deserved their win as they're the most consistent team throughout the whole tournament.

 

In their third final appearance after 1986 and 2012. I don't approve of the Saudi hosting scenario, but Al Ahli SFC were at a significant disadvantage in 2012 when it was a single leg at their Eastern opponents (Ulsan). I suppose in a way this makes up for that.

[EDIT] I take that back. 1986 was also played in Jeddah.

What an opening goal though...

 

What exactly is going on in the OFC? @almango

Auckland City ‘will not participate in OFC Professional League in any capacity’:
https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com...e-in-ofc-professional-league-in-any-capacity/

Auckland FC keen to take part in proposed OFC Professional League:
https://www.news.com.au/sport/footb...e/news-story/254a1737e8e743f7107e9f9ee0698c06

While I believe every club in the world should have a path to FIFA tournaments, the more suitable path for Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix is via the A-League/AFC. Like the Welsh clubs in England. Concacaf is a bit more messy, but Canadian clubs can now also qualify via MLS.

So is 2025 the last year we see Auckland City on the global stage?

 

It's all confusing to me. We have a couple of New Zealand teams in the A League (and the new one finished top of the league in its first season) and some second tier Australian teams wanting to play in the new OFC professional league if it gets off the ground. Auckland, the new A League Premiers, want to play in both and New Zealand's leading semi pro team don't want to play.

My own view is that if OFC can get a pro league going they should do it without Australian Clubs and that New Zealand A League clubs should be playing in the OFC League. I wish them every success but most proposals for things like this in the football world over here don't seem to materialise and even when they do they bear no resemblance to the original proposals.

Anyway my team had a disappointing season losing in the semi finals of the AFC Elite League 2 and when only needing a point to make the playoffs in the last match lost 5-1. They were way too inconsistent this season looking like world beaters for one week and like amateurs the next two.

 

So it sounds like this OFC League would be the top confederation competition, so the two clubs would stay in the A-League but would have a path to FIFA tournaments. But participation would be based on licensing, not qualification. I'm not sure how other OFC countries can come up with clubs that can challenge the billionaire-backed Auckland FC.

 

As I understood Auckland would play with junior team, like Wellington Phoenix plays NZL league.

South Melbourne, one of Australian football great teams, also has an eye on the competition. I don't know why is that.

I don't like this at all and I am not sure we will see more than one edition, like we are not likely to see new African League edition.

 

I read somewhere (not an official source) that Auckland City are absent from this new OFC pro league because they must preserve their amateur status. They are (at least partially) funded by community gaming. Pokies (slot machines) in pubs? That type of fundraising can only go towards amateur teams. No idea if true.

It sure has gotten quiet around Infantino's African pet project. The African Football League.

 

Inter Milan advance to the UCL final in a tremendous series, 7:6 on aggregate against Barcelona.

Truly one for the ages…

 

And they are joined by PSG in the final, who beat Arsenal 3:1 on aggregate.

 

So two Arab-oil-money-backed teams turned European giants could win their first European cup by beating - Internazionale.

 

Not exactly related to this thread (somehow is, they might take part ICC), but I don't know where to ask - does anyone know why does Pyramids play all games but game vs Al-Ahly away? Eight games in championship stage, they play seven games away - seven straight games.

I cannot find any info on this.

 

Caf to unveil new trophy in Johannesburg ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns' Champions League final showdown against Pyramids FC:
https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/ca...wdown-against-pyramids-fc/blt9673e0128c425b24

Let me guess, it's the repurposed African Football League trophy?

 

I don't have the answer but it sounds like Pyramids will struggle to win both - league and CCL:
https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/international/african-football/pyramids-postponement-request

 

CAF launches a ‘new look’ TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Trophy together with TotalEnergies ahead of the first Leg Final this weekend:
https://www.cafonline.com/caf-champ...es-ahead-of-the-first-leg-final-this-weekend/

Not a drastic departure. The first leg is on Saturday…

 

And it ends 1:1 between Sundowns and Pyramids.

Quite an important away goal there in stoppage time for Pyramids.

 

In Croatia we have a two-legged cup final (and pro/rel matches in lower leagues). It used away-goal rule until this year when they changed it after pressure from clubs and fans.

 

Three continental champions will be crowned this week:

31/5 - Paris St. Germain vs. Inter Milan
01/6 - Pyramids FC vs. Mamelodi Sundowns
01/6 - Cruz Azul vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

Will PSG, Pyramids, or Vancouver win their first continental title ever?

It would be the first for France and Ligue 1 since 1993. In Vancouver’s case it would be a first for a Canadian club.

 

Al Ahly crowned champions with 45th title 🏆, but Pyramids FC contest the decision, citing Al Ahly's no-show against Zamalek.

Initial 3-point deduction was reduced to a forfeit,still keeping Al Ahly ahead. Pyramids await CAS ruling—title race not over yet? #SoccerAfrica

— David M Seleka Jr ☭ (@Spokmathambo) May 29, 2025

Distraction or extra fire in the belly for the CCL final?

 

The 2025 Champions League final: Paris vs Inter 🍿#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/BPgfW9CiuO

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 7, 2025

Here's hoping for another standout Yann Sommer performance. But even if PSG win, at least the team will be the star after all these years of investment. Not Zlatan and friends, not Neymar and friends, not Messi and friends, and certainly not Mbappé and friends.

Despotism v capitalism: PSG v Inter is clash of styles on and off pitch
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/30/inter-psg-champions-league-final-analysis

PSG close to scaling summit but could old-school Inter end wait for glory?:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/30/psg-inter-champions-league-final-glory

 

PSG finally get their glorious night of European football. 5:0 over Inter. It was never in question.

It’s impossible to deny. This is a mighty fine team.

 

Are they the first club founded after the European Cup to win it?