Soccer's top players have had enough, as FIFA's new super-sized tournament sparks a revolt

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — One of the most striking moments of soccer in 2024 was when Rodri hobbled onto a stage in Paris on crutches to receive the prestigious Ballon d’Or for best male player of the year. The Manchester City and Spain midfielder had been one of the most...

FIFA gives Club World Cup new opening day for Messi, Inter Miami. MetLife also gets both semifinals

ZURICH (AP) — The 2025 Club World Cup will now kick off one day earlier with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami opening the monthlong tournament on June 14, and ending with a week of games at MetLife Stadium near New York. FIFA published the 63-game schedule Saturday for the first...

Messi and Inter Miami to open Club World Cup against Egyptian club Al Ahly

MIAMI (AP) — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami now know their path for next year's Club World Cup. The host team — invited by FIFA to compete despite criticism from many in the soccer world — will play the tournament's first match on June 15 against Egyptian club Al Ahly, as part of...

Trump addresses Club World Cup draw through prerecorded video

MIAMI (AP) — The audience at the FIFA Club World Cup draw in Miami watched a prerecorded video message from President-elect Donald Trump in which he said soccer is going “through the roof.” Ivanka Trump, her husband, Jared Kushner, and their son, Theo, were among those at the...

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will open the FIFA Club World Cup against Egypt's Al Ahly on June 15

The draw for FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup is coming up. Here’s what to know

GENEVA (AP) — Soccer’s biggest ever global club tournament is coming to the United States next year and the 32-team group stage will be drawn Thursday. European powers Real Madrid and Manchester City, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, recently crowned South American champion Botafogo...

Bank of America signs again with FIFA for US-hosted Club World Cup that still has no TV deals

GENEVA (AP) — World Cup sponsor Bank of America teamed with FIFA for a second time Tuesday, signing for the Club World Cup that still has no broadcast deals just over six months before games start. Bank of America became FIFA’s first global banking partner in August and sealed a...

FIFA signs Budweiser brewer AB InBev to separate sponsor deal for 2025 Club World Cup in the US

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA signed its longtime sponsor AB InBev to a Club World Cup deal on Monday that will promote the Budweiser and Michelob Ultra brands at the tournament in the United States next year. The value of the latest Budweiser deal, which includes player-of-the-match awards,...

Inter Miami going to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi is heading to the Club World Cup next year. FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced Saturday night that Inter Miami will play in the tournament, something that had been long expected given Messi's enormous popularity around the world and...

FIFA president Gianni Infantino tours Seattle ahead of next year's Club World Cup

Seattle's Lumen Field will host six games during next year's Club World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Tuesday. The Seattle Sounders, which earned a spot in the competition by winning the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League, will host all three of their group matches at their...