Club World Cup to begin with Messi's Miami vs Al Ahly, Neymar faces Real Madrid
Thursday’s draw took place in Miami, where club officials, former players, and dignitaries gathered for the occasion.
Lionel Messi's Inter Miami will inaugurate FIFA's revamped 32-team Club World Cup, starting with a clash against Egypt's Al Ahly on 15 June.
The draw for the tournament, unveiled on Thursday, placed the Major League Soccer side in Group A alongside Brazilian champions Palmeiras and Portuguese giants Porto.
FIFA awarded Inter Miami a spot in the competition after their stellar regular-season performance in Major League Soccer, setting the stage for Argentina's World Cup-winning captain to spearhead the event's opening.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
In Group H, Neymar's Al-Hilal will face a familiar foe as they take on European champions Real Madrid, rekindling memories of the Brazilian's La Liga battles during his time with Barcelona. Neymar's presence ensures an enticing narrative for football fans worldwide.
Manchester City, fresh from their treble-winning season, were drawn in Group G, where they will face Italian giants Juventus.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain find themselves in a challenging Group D alongside Atletico Madrid, Brazil's Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo, and the Seattle Sounders from the United States.
Twelve European clubs are participating in the expanded tournament, underscoring its global appeal.
The tournament will culminate in a final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 13 July. Thursday's draw took place in Miami, where club officials, former players, and dignitaries gathered for the occasion.
Even US President-elect Donald Trump shared a video message to wish the event success, as the ceremony was broadcast live over 90 minutes.
FIFA, initially struggling to secure sponsors and broadcasters for the competition, announced a global partnership with streaming platform DAZN on Wednesday.
The platform will stream the matches free of charge, ensuring accessibility for fans worldwide.
However, the new tournament has faced criticism from several quarters. Fifpro and the European Leagues body lodged a joint complaint with the European Commission, opposing its introduction into the already congested international match calendar.
Critics argue that the added workload will strain players and disrupt domestic schedules.
