The world’s top football clubs will soon learn their opponents for the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, with the group stage draw set for December 5 in Miami.
The draw, scheduled to begin at 1800 GMT, will assign 32 teams into eight groups of four for the competition in the United States, running from June 15 to July 13.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will open the tournament on June 15 at Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
FIFA aims to hold this expanded Club World Cup every four years, though a host nation for the 2029 edition is yet to be determined.
The revamped tournament will see the top two teams from each group advance to a knockout stage, starting from the round of 16 and concluding with a final.
There will be no match for third place. Unlike previous editions, which featured seven teams, the expanded format includes 32 teams, with elite clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich participating.
The tournament’s growth has sparked criticism over potential strain on players, and FIFA has not yet announced any broadcast partnerships for the event.
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