The season in Europe has barely ended, and already the next big tournament is on the horizon. From June 14 to July 13, the first Club World Cup in its new format will take place in the USA. Instead of the seven teams as before, 32 teams from every continent are now participating. An overview.
The new format
The structure of the Club World Cup is reminiscent of a national team World Cup. The 32 teams play in eight groups of four, with the top two from each group reaching the round of 16. From there, it continues in a knockout format until the final on July 13 at MetLife Stadium near New York. Matches will be played in twelve stadiums across eleven US cities.
The participants
Twelve clubs from Europe are taking part, including Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, and Atlético Madrid. Paris Saint-Germain arrives as the newly crowned Champions League winner, having decisively beaten Inter in the final in Munich. Participants from South America include Flamengo, Palmeiras, River Plate, and Boca Juniors, among others. The opening match on June 14 in Miami will feature Inter Miami with Lionel Messi against Al Ahly from Egypt.
Swiss participation
There is no Swiss club involved, but there are Swiss players. Manuel Akanji with Manchester City and Yann Sommer with Inter Milan are among the most famous names. For both, it is another special challenge after a long season.
New rules on trial
The tournament is also exciting from a rules perspective. The new eight-second rule for goalkeepers is already being applied here, ahead of its official implementation on July 1. If a goalkeeper holds the ball for too long, a corner kick is awarded. In addition, the referees are wearing bodycams, with some footage set to be broadcast live on television. This allows viewers to experience decisions from the official's perspective for the first time.
Criticism regarding the workload
Not everyone is enthusiastic. Player unions and coaches are criticizing the fact that for many professionals, this means there is hardly any break in the season. Those who played in the Champions League in May are back on the pitch in June and July, and the new season begins in August. We will see in the coming months how this affects performance and the risk of injury.
Summer, heat, and technique
Matches will be played during the American summer, sometimes in intense heat. Under such conditions, an economical style of play becomes important. Teams that keep the ball moving and use their chances efficiently conserve energy. Those who can manage a clean finish at the decisive moment don't need to mount ten separate attacks.
This also applies to your summer training. Instead of exhausting yourself for hours in 30-degree heat, short, targeted technical sessions in the morning or evening are more sensible. Ten minutes of focused volley training with the VOLLEYCHAMP® are worth more than an hour without a plan. And don't forget to drink plenty of fluids.
Our tip
Watch the matches with a special focus: notice how many goals are scored from direct strikes or volleys. Especially at high speed and against tired defensive lines, rebounds often occur that must be converted without trapping the ball. Perhaps you will discover one or two techniques you would like to try out yourself.
A tournament with an open outcome
It remains to be seen whether the new Club World Cup will prove to be a success. One thing is certain: for fans, it is a rare opportunity to see teams from different continents face each other directly. A top Brazilian team against a European giant—this has rarely happened in the past. We are curious to see whether the Europeans will dominate or if the South Americans will pull off a surprise.
Enjoy the games!
