Riveiro, El Shenawy, and Abou Ali eye improvement ahead of Palmeiras clash
Al Ahly FC, African football powerhouse and one of the most decorated clubs on the continent, kicked off the inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup with a goalless draw against Inter Miami CF at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Despite flashes of brilliance and a first-half penalty opportunity, the Red Eagles were left to rue missed chances in a match filled with attacking intent from both sides.
The Cairo giants impressed early on, dominating much of the first half and earning a penalty just before the interval. However, Trezeguet’s spot kick was saved, and the MLS side escaped into halftime unscathed. The second half saw Inter Miami respond with more attacking pressure, but veteran goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy stood tall, making several key saves to secure a point. #image_title
Palestinian striker Wessam Abou Ali, who had a goal disallowed for offside, expressed his frustration at the result. “I’m really disappointed we didn’t take all three points,” he said. “We had clear chances to score in the first half. The support from our fans was incredible, and we wanted to reward them with a win.”
Looking ahead to their next Group A fixture against Brazilian side Palmeiras on June 19, Abou Ali added, “Palmeiras will be tough, but we’ll work hard to be ready and hopefully get the result we need.”
New head coach Jose Riveiro, managing his first competitive match with Al Ahly, acknowledged both the positives and areas of improvement. “We controlled the first half but lacked sharpness after the break,” he said. “There were some mistakes and missed opportunities, but overall, it’s a decent foundation to build on.”
Goalkeeper El Shenawy echoed the sentiment, noting the challenge of playing in humid conditions. “We knew Inter Miami would come at us in the second half,” he said. “The humidity was a factor, but we earned a point, and that’s something we can build from.”
With one point secured, Al Ahly now turn their focus to Palmeiras, knowing victory is likely essential for progression in this historic tournament.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup officially begins as Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami faces Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the opening match of a historic, expanded 32-team tournament hosted across 11 cities in the United States. This revamped competition features teams from all six confederations—including 12 European clubs—and promises over £100 million in prize money.
Set to run until July 14, the tournament brings together global heavyweights like Real Madrid, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Boca Juniors, and Flamengo, with early matches scheduled in venues ranging from Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium to Seattle’s Lumen Field and Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.
Despite some skepticism in parts of Europe, the tournament has sparked excitement in Africa, Asia, and South America, where clubs aim to upset traditional powerhouses on a global stage.
Here are the complete groups for the FIFA World Cup.
#FIFACWC #FIFAClubWorldCup #FIFA
📅 Key Dates & Fixtures:
June 14: Inter Miami vs Al Ahly – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
June 15–23: Group stage matches across all cities
June 28 – July 1: Round of 16
July 4–5: Quarter-finals
July 8–9: Semi-finals
July 14: Final – MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
🕒 Kick-Off Times:
Matches vary between 12pm to 9pm EDT, with European-friendly BST schedules highlighted. Only a few fixtures stretch into early morning hours for UK fans.
📺 Where to Watch:
Coverage will be split between Channel 5 and DAZN, depending on region and match time. Fans can expect multiple language options and streaming availability worldwide.
🏟️ Venues Include:
Miami (Hard Rock Stadium)
Seattle (Lumen Field)
Pasadena (Rose Bowl)
Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field)
Charlotte (Bank of America Stadium)
New Jersey (MetLife Stadium – Final)
With Messi leading the charge and football giants lining up across the brackets, the 2025 Club World Cup is set to redefine international club football’s reach and spectacle.
Super Eagles of Nigeria and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman has etched his name in African football history by clinching the prestigious CAF Men’s Player of the Year award for 2024, as Africa’s best performers for the year were honoured at a glamorous ceremony held in Marrakech, Morocco.
Lookman’s exceptional performances for both club and country throughout the past year propelled him to the forefront of African football. His electrifying pace, clinical finishing, and creative playmaking abilities have made him a force to be reckoned with.
The 27-year-old’s standout moments, including a sensational hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final, solidified his position as one of the continent’s most talented players. This victory marks a significant achievement for Nigerian football, as Lookman becomes the second consecutive Nigerian to win the award after Victor Osimhen.
It is the first time Nigeria has had back-to-back winners in the Men’s award since Nwankwo Kanu (1996) and Victor Ikpeba (1997) were honoured almost three decades ago.
As Lookman continues to shine on the international stage, his impact on African football is undeniable. His dedication, hard work, and exceptional skills have inspired a generation of young players across the continent. With his star on the rise, the future looks bright for both Lookman and Nigerian football.
The glittering ceremony was attended by football royalty from the continent and beyond in a celebration of the incredible growth and development of the game in Africa, and the astonishing strides that have been made in men’s and women’s football in recent years.
FIFA has confirmed that the 2027 edition of the Women’s World Cup will be held in Brazil from June 24 to July 25, 2027. This will be the first time the prestigious tournament is hosted in South America, marking a historic milestone in women’s football. The announcement was made by FIFA, further cementing Brazil’s position as a key player in global football after securing the hosting rights in May 2023.
Tournament Format and Qualification
The 2027 Women’s World Cup will feature 32 teams, maintaining the same qualification structure as the 2023 edition. The tournament will allocate slots to various football confederations, ensuring fair representation from around the world:
UEFA (Europe) will have 11 teams qualify directly.
AFC (Asia) will be allotted six direct slots.
CAF (Africa) and CONCACAF (North America) will each have four teams qualify directly.
CONMEBOL (South America) will secure three spots.
OFC (Oceania) will have one direct qualification slot.
The final three spots will be determined through a 10-team playoff tournament, scheduled in two phases between November 2026 and February 2027. This playoff will give teams from across the globe the chance to secure their place in the tournament.
Brazil will stage the competition across 10 to 12 venues, many of which were previously used during the 2014 men’s World Cup. The tournament is expected to be a major spectacle, showcasing the nation’s rich football heritage and its growing investment in women’s football.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his enthusiasm about the tournament, stating, “This historic tournament will have a massive impact not only in South America but around the whole world.”
Impact on Global Women’s Football
The 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil is expected to be a game-changer for women’s football, bringing the tournament to a new continent and inspiring young athletes in South America and beyond. With Brazil’s passion for football, the event promises to set new standards for the women’s game on the global stage.
Looking Ahead: 2030 and 2034 Men’s World Cups
FIFA is also poised to announce the hosts for the 2030 and 2034 Men’s World Cups. The 2030 edition will be hosted by a unique three-continent, six-nation bid led by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. Meanwhile, the 2034 tournament will be awarded to Saudi Arabia.
Não sou de ficar criticando o podpah, mas aqui deu vergonha. O Gabigol tava claramente falando de uma parada seria, de um assunto que poucos atletas do fut masculino se importam, e o cara não só não soube desenvolver o assunto, como ficou enfiando Corinthians masculino no meio. https://t.co/ngze64g2sQ
FIFA has introduced a new set of transfer windows to address contract issues related to the 2025 Club World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United States from June 15 to July 13. The prestigious tournament, expanded to include 32 teams, will feature major football clubs like Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich.
The timing of the Club World Cup posed a significant challenge, particularly for players whose contracts expire on June 30, leaving them in limbo during the tournament. High-profile stars such as Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan could have found themselves without a club mid-tournament under the existing rules. Additionally, players like Jadon Sancho, on loan from Manchester United to Chelsea, and seven Bayern Munich players, including Joshua Kimmich and Alphonso Davies, face expiring contracts at the same time.
To address these issues, FIFA has announced the introduction of an “exceptional registration window” that will run for 10 days, starting from June 1, 2025. This special window will allow participating clubs to register players who would otherwise be sidelined due to contract expirations. This proposal received unanimous backing from the FIFA Council during a meeting held on Thursday and is expected to receive approval from national football associations in the coming weeks.
Additionally, FIFA will open a second, temporary six-day transfer window starting on June 27, 2025, allowing teams to replace or re-register players whose contracts expire in the midst of the competition. This move could permit certain players to switch clubs and continue competing in the tournament, although they will not be allowed to represent two different teams within the competition itself. For example, under these new regulations, Alphonso Davies could theoretically transfer from Bayern Munich to Real Madrid and then face his former team within days in the same tournament.
The current transfer system only permits transactions during the summer and January windows, but this is not the first time FIFA has adjusted the rules. A similar change occurred in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic extended the football season into the summer months, necessitating amendments to the transfer calendar.
FIFA’s statement emphasized that the objective of this change is to “encourage clubs and players whose contracts are expiring to find an appropriate solution to facilitate the players’ participation” in the Club World Cup. The governing body hopes these changes will ensure that all participating clubs have the best possible squads available for the tournament.
Despite the structural changes, the 2025 Club World Cup has struggled to attract interest from broadcasters, with many declining to bid for media rights. In response, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has called for an emergency meeting to address the lack of commercial interest in the tournament.
Infantino remains optimistic about the tournament’s potential impact, stating, “The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will kick off a new era for club football across the world, with the top teams competing to be crowned the official FIFA club world champions. These regulations will ensure that the best possible conditions are in place in order for all 32 participating clubs and the best players in the world to shine at the highest level.”
As the football world prepares for this groundbreaking tournament, the new transfer windows provide clubs with the flexibility needed to navigate contract challenges and put forward their best teams in pursuit of the coveted title.
