Latest news with #FIFAIntercontinentalCup
The Hindu
16 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Mbappe discharged from hospital — Will the Real Madrid star play in FIFA Club World Cup 2025?
Kylian Mbappe was discharged from the hospital on Thursday after an acute case of gastroenteritis. It remains unclear when he will return to action for Real Madrid at the Club World Cup. Mbappe missed Madrid's opening match of the tournament — a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal in Miami — due to a fever. Manager Xabi Alonso said the France international was in 'rough shape' and had been unable to train for days. His illness has cast doubt on what role he can play in the month-long tournament in the United States. Madrid next faces Pachuca in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday. 'Mbappe will continue with specific medical treatment and will gradually return to the team's activity,' Madrid said in a statement. Mbappe's stats at Real Madrid Matches: 56 Goals: 43 Assists: 5 Trophies: 2 - UEFA Super Cup (2024-25), FIFA Intercontinental Cup (2024-25) Gastroenteritis, also known as stomach flu, can cause symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea. Mbappe's absence is a blow to the Club World Cup, which FIFA president Gianni Infantino hopes will become one of football's elite events, rivaling competitions like the Champions League and Premier League in popularity and value. The 26-year-old was Madrid's top scorer last season, netting 43 goals in 56 appearances in his debut year after joining from Paris Saint-Germain. His hospitalisation comes almost exactly one year after he sustained a broken nose at the European Championship and had to wear a face mask to continue playing. (with inputs from The Associated Press)
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Referee cameras to debut at FIFA Club World Cup games. Fans get to see through refs' eyes
Referee cameras to debut at FIFA Club World Cup games. Fans get to see through refs' eyes Show Caption Hide Caption FIFA's new referee cam provides amazing view of action USA TODAY Sports' Safid Deen takes a look at the new camera attached to the referee's earpiece, giving fans a new perspective. Sports Pulse MIAMI – One unique way the FIFA Club World Cup will appeal to fans this summer is the introduction of the referee camera, which will provide viewers with point-of-view action they've never seen before watching soccer games. FIFA referees will wear tiny cameras on the sides of their heads, connected to a microphone and transmitter that will send the video to DAZN – the company broadcasting all 63 Club World Cup matches for free on its app and website. The video will also be shown inside six NFL stadiums during Club World Cup games so fans can experience the referee's decision-making process and enhance transparency during on-field reviews. Sports fans are typically accustomed to seeing cameras zoom in on referees making announcements during NFL and NBA games, while MLB fans have recently experienced the home-plate umpire's point of view from cameras on their facemask. If it goes well, maybe referee cameras could infiltrate the viewing experience in other sports. 'The main purpose is to offer the TV viewers a new experience," FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina told USA TODAY Sports this week during a Club World Cup referee training session in Miami. Referees will place customized molded earpieces into their right ears, then watch a screen as they adjust and tighten their cameras to the ideal angle for capturing the action. Two wires – one for the camera and the other for a microphone – will be clipped on the back collar either on the referee's uniform or an undershirt. And the transmitter, called a ballpack, will be placed in their shorts' pocket. FIFA tested several cameras, including some at chest level, but felt the side of the ear resulted in the best perspective. It offers a direct line of sight of the referees, especially when they turn their heads – something that wouldn't be offered if they wore a body camera on their chest. 'We were thinking about what's the best way to attach the camera,' said German referee Nicolas Winter, whose idea has come to life for the Club World Cup and could be employed by FIFA for other matches in the future. 'For us, it was important to have the original point of view of the referee because when you have a body cam and move your head to the right or left, you never really have the original point of view.' Added FIFA Director of Innovation Johannes Holzmuller: "If we replicate the referee view, it should really be 100% what the referee is looking at.' FIFA announced its referee cameras late last week, sharing a video of Pachuca's Oussama Idrissi dribbling around several defenders to score a goal in their win against Botafogo in a FIFA Intercontinental Cup match last December. The referee's camera captured the player receiving a pass from his teammate in the penalty area, the player's creative playmaking before firing the shot, the roar of the crowd and defenders helplessly looking up at the referee after the score. 'The view from the referee's camera was amazing,' Collina said. 'It's interesting.' Holzmuller says the video transmitted will be in 1080i quality, sent over a private 5G network so DAZN and the stadiums can use the video. Referees have worn the devices during their training sessions to get used to their ear molds, which aim to make the wearing experience more comfortable for them. The referees will also have assistance putting on their camera devices before matches to ensure they are recording as soon as matches begin. 'From there, it goes live on air,' Holzmuller said. FIFA will use the findings from the Club World Cup to create guidelines and explore the use of them in future matches. It's possible it could be a mainstay for soccer broadcasts – including next year's FIFA World Cup. Along with improving the fan experience, the referee cameras could also help them improve their craft. 'I was sitting at home on my couch seven years ago, thinking about how to improve refereeing,' Winter said. 'We have 30+ camera angles in a top match, but we can never see our own perspective after a match again. It's really helpful for us to analyze matches – like our positioning, for example. But I think it's good to give the audience and spectators a more transparent view, so they can understand what it means to be a referee. 'Of course, we are all human. We all make mistakes. But I think it's always good to show everyone the way decision making works.'
DW
12-06-2025
- Sport
- DW
FIFA Club World Cup: What you need to know – DW – 06/12/2025
The Club World Cup is set to kick off in the United States to crown the world's best – with more teams than ever before. But it is far from universally loved. On June 14, the FIFA Club World Cup kicks off in a new, vastly expanded format. Why has this new Club World Cup been created? "It will be like a World Cup," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in late 2022 when he announced his plans for this expanded Club World Cup with 32 teams. Until now, only the six winners of the continental club championships and a club from the host country had taken part. Infantino's main goal for the new format is that it will generate increased revenue. The "new" Club World Cup is to be held every four years beginning in 2025. In the intervening years, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup will be played – following the old Club World Cup format. FIFA is planning to introduce a Women's Club World Cup in 2026. What are the key facts? The teams are divided into eight groups of four, with each team facing the other three in their group once. The top two teams in each group qualify for the round of 16 – at which point play continues in a knockout format through to the final. If a knockout-stage match is tied after 90 minutes, there will be two 15-minute periods of extra time. If the score is still tied, the match will be decided in a penalty shootout follows. Unlike the World Cup there will be no third-place match. The games will be played in 12 stadiums, all of which are in east of the United States, apart from Los Angeles and Seattle on the Pacific coast. The tournament opens on June 14 in Miami with the first match of Group A between the winner of the African Champions League, Al Ahly FC of Egypt, and MLS club Inter Miami, where Lionel Messi now plays. The final is slated for July 13 in New York. Bayern Munich have won the Club World Cup, including in 2013 with captain Philipp Lahm (center) when they beat Raja Casablanca in the final Image: FrankHoermann/SVEN SIMON/picture alliance Who will compete in the Club World Cup? Europe has the most participants, with 12 teams. The last four winners of the Champions League qualified plus the eight-best ranked teams in Europe over the past four years. Germany is represented by Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. South America has six teams, Asia and Africa have four teams, as does the region of North and Central America plus the Caribbean (CONCACAF). Oceania is represented by Auckland City FC of New Zealand. How much money is up for grabs? In its 2024 financial report, FIFA projected revenue of $2 billion (€1.75 billion) for this year's Club World Cup, with $1 billion to go to the participating clubs. FIFA will shell out just over half of this in participation payments – although this is not evenly distributed among the clubs. Some UEFA clubs receive the most. Under a special ranking that combines the clubs' sporting and commercial value, the payments per European club range between $12.8 million and $38.2 million. According to Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen, the Bundesliga champions will receive around $30 million. Auckland are to receive just over a tenth of that. $475 million will be distributed as performance bonuses: for wins and draws in the group stage, for winning a group, and for advancing through the knockout rounds. The winner of the tournament receives $40 million in prize money, while the other finalist takes home $30 million. If a European club wins the Club World Cup, they could take home more than $125 million. How has the new Club World Cup format been received? Opinions are divided. The participating clubs are pleased about the generous financial rewards and have therefore been muted in their criticism. Many critics, though, point to the already overcrowded football calendar, arguing that this additional four-week tournament gives the players even less time to rest and recover – further increasing the risk of injury. Some Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund players will be on their way to the USA with their clubs just a few days after they were involved in the Nations League Finals. If any of these players were to reach the final on July 13, he would be left with under six weeks to go before the start of the new Bundesliga season on August 22. Lionel Messi will be hoping to pull in the crowds for the Club World Cup at home in Miami Image: Sam Navarro/Imagn Images/IMAGO Another point of criticism is the scheduling conflict with the Gold Cup (June 14 to July 6), the continental championship of the national teams of North and Central America and the Caribbean, will also be played in the USA and Canada. FIFA has exempted the clubs participating in the Club World Cup from the usual obligation to release players to their national teams. The Club World Cup could also distract football fans from the first 11 days of the Women's Euros, which is taking place in Switzerland (July 2 to 27). How has the fan response been? Ticket sales have been slow. Thousands of tickets are still available for the opening match in Miami. FIFA has since drastically reduced ticket prices for the match to prevent the embarrassment of TV images of empty stands. There are even plenty of tickets left for the final. No wonder: the cheapest ticket costs $766. The restrictive entry policies introduced by President Donald Trump's administration may deter some foreign fans from attending the tournament. The current protests in Los Angeles, one of host cities, also seem unlikely to encourage anyone to make a last-minute trip to the Club World Cup. This article was originally published in German.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Ref Cam' footage won't show controversial incidents
Venezuelan referee Jesus Valenzuela wearing the 'Ref Cam' during the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup final football match between Spain's Real Madrid and Mexico's Pachuca at the Lusail Stadium in Doha on December 18, 2024. (KARIM JAAFAR) Referees at this month's Club World will wear 'body cams' with the footage used in broadcasts of the game -- but only if the images are of non-controversial incidents, FIFA refereeing officials said on Wednesday. The match referees in the tournament will wear a small camera protruding from their earpiece which will be able to generate video from the referees point of view. Advertisement But while broadcasters will be able to offer unique angles on goals and saves -- as well as close-up live video and sound from the pre-match coin toss -- viewers won't get to see penalty decisions or other disputable moments from the new camera angle. "The objective is to offer the TV viewers a new experience," said Pierluigi Collina, the Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee. Collina said that IFAB, which sets the laws of the game had allowed a trial of the technology and suggested that footage of controversies might be part of a later phase in the future. "Let's do things step by step. At the is a trial. We need to do something new and the simpler the better. So we fixed some rules within a protocol. We will offer these images in the future? Maybe when we learn to run, maybe not, maybe we will do," he said. Advertisement The live images will be broadcast via a private 5G network from the ref to the match production team, said FIFA Director of Innovation, Johannes Holzmuller, who said the live aspect would only be available in the six NFL stadiums being used for the tournament. What Club World Cup fans will be able to see are the VAR reviews, as seen by referees on the pitchside monitor, which will be broadcast on giant screens in the stadium. That video will then be followed by the referee announcing the final decision over the public address system and the television broadcast. The tournament will also see the use of 'enhanced semi-automatic offside' technology which will use 16 cameras linked to AI technology and algorithms which will send an audio message to the assistant referee when an offside player touches the ball. Advertisement The system will likely see the flag raised earlier for offside and reduce cases of play continuing after a clear offside until a later VAR review. The tournament will also be an early introduction of the new law that goalkeepers have eight seconds to release the ball after picking it up - or be punished with a corner. It replaces the previous law that keepers had six seconds to release the ball or give up an indirect free-kick. The goalkeepers will be shown a five second warning by the referee who will count down showing the fingers of one hand. sev/rcw
Scoop
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Al Ain Friendly Ramps Up Preparations
WASHINGTON, D.C., USA – Auckland City FC's journey to the FIFA Club World Cup continues with an international friendly against Al Ain FC on Monday, June 9 at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. This encounter pits New Zealand's champions against the 2023/24 AFC Champions League winner, a team that boasts experience at the highest level, including a memorable run to the final of the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup. Al Ain and Auckland City FC are no strangers to each other. They last met in September 2024 in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup qualifier, where Al Ain secured a 6-2 victory in Abu Dhabi. This time, however, Auckland City FC arrives better prepared, with a week of training in the United States under their belt. This fixture offers the Navy Blues an opportunity to fine-tune their approach ahead of their tournament opener against Bayern Munich on. With training in the United States progressing well, the squad will aim to maximise their final warm-up before heading to Chattanooga. Assistant coach Adria Casals emphasised the importance of adapting to a different style of play: 'We're making the right adjustments and want the boys to show what they're capable of with the ball—because that's the DNA of this club,' Casals said. Meanwhile, right-back Nathan Lobo acknowledged the significance of maintaining momentum: 'Getting off to a winning start helps the boys believe in what we're building. This match will be a strong test before the Club World Cup,' Lobo stated. While Al Ain bring experience at the highest level, Auckland City is focused on building momentum and sharpening their play before taking on elite opposition in the Club World Cup. A competitive challenge awaits, and both sides will be eager to make the most of the occasion. MATCH DETAILS International Friendly Al Ain FC vs Auckland City FC Monday, 9 June 2025 Episcopal High School, Alexandria, VA KO: 4:00pm (Local Time) AC SQUAD: 1. Conor TRACEY (GK) 2. Mario ILICH (C) 3. Adam MITCHELL 4. Christian GRAY 5. Nikko BOXALL, 6. Jackson MANUEL 7. Myer BEVAN 8. Gerard GARRIGA 9. Angus KILKOLLY 10. Dylan MANICKUM 11. Ryan DE VRIES 12. Regont MURATI 13. Nathan LOBO 14. Jordan VALE, 15. Jeremy FOO, 16. Joe LEE 17. Jerson LAGOS 18. Sebastian CIGANDA (GK) 19. Dylan CONNOLLY, 20. Matt ELLIS, 21. Adam KANUI BELL 22. Tong ZHOU 23. Alfie ROGERS, 24. Nathan GARROW (GK) 25. Michael DEN HEIJER, 26. David YOO, 27. Haris ZEB. Interim Head Coach: Ivan VICELICH Assistant Coach: Adria CASALS Assistant Coach : Daewook KIM GK Coach: Jonas HOFFMANN Analyst: Malte THESENVITZ Physiotherapist: Matt PAYNE Physiotherapist: Zara ELLIS Team Doctor: Craig PANTHER Team Manager: Keith COTON ABOUT AUCKLAND CITY FC: Auckland City FC plays in the New Zealand domestic football competition (Northern League, National League Championship and Chatham Cup) and Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Champions League from its whenua at Kiwitea Street in Sandringham, Auckland and was founded in 2004.
