World Cup

Fans from over 130 countries have purchased nearly 1.5 million tickets for the Club World Cup that kicked off last weekend in its newly expanded format across the United States, FIFA said on Tuesday.

A crowd of more than 60,000 turned up for the opener at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, which featured Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, while some 80,000 were in the Rose Bowl stands as Paris St Germain beat Atletico Madrid 4-0 on Sunday.

Club World Cup attendances: 1.5 million tickets sold according to FIFA

From a warehouse to the Club World Cup.

Conor Tracey’s journey to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has been anything but typical. By day, the Auckland City FC goalkeeper works full-time as a supervisor at a veterinary supply warehouse in New Zealand, overseeing the distribution of pharmaceuticals. By night and weekend, he suits up as a part-time professional soccer player for Auckland City.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, set to take place in the United States, is embracing a bold and entertainment-driven approach with unique elements inspired by the NBA. 

Players and managers will be interviewed live during halftime of matches, a first for a FIFA-sanctioned tournament. 

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June 12 (Reuters) - Boca Juniors defender Ayrton Costa will miss the Club World Cup after being denied a visa to enter the United States due to a criminal complaint against him in his native Argentina, the club confirmed on Thursday.

In 2023, Costa accepted a probationary sentence to avoid trial for an aggravated robbery in 2018, which U.S. officials ruled that he is still serving.

June 10 (Reuters) - Argentina have learned to cope with Lionel Messi's absences and no longer need to rejig the line-up when the Inter Miami forward is not available, manager Lionel Scaloni said ahead of Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Colombia.

Since making his senior debut in 2005, Messi has scored 112 goals in 192 appearances for Argentina, winning the World Cup in 2022, two Copa America titles and a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

June 9 (Reuters) - American rapper Doja Cat, Colombian singer J Balvin and Nigerian singer Tems will headline the Club World Cup final halftime show in the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, FIFA said on Monday.

World soccer's ruling body will also work with international education and advocacy organisation Global Citizen and British rock band Coldplay for the show on July 13.

June 2 (Reuters) - Seattle Sounders players called for a bigger slice of the prize money for competing at the Club World Cup this month by wearing T-shirts emblazoned with "Cash Grab" and "Fair Share Now" ahead of a Major League Soccer match on Sunday.

Seattle are set to earn at least $9.55 million for competing at the June 14 to July 13 tournament in the U.S., where the total prize money runs to $1 billion, but under the MLS collective bargaining agreement (CBA) the players' share is capped at $1 million per club.

The women's World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams from the 2031 edition onwards after world soccer's governing body FIFA said its Council approved the proposal at a virtual meeting on Friday.

The 48-team World Cup will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 - the same as the expanded men's World Cup in 2026 - and extending the tournament by one week.

48 team Women's World Cup

The Maracana Stadium will be one of eight venues across Brazil to host matches at the 2027 Women's World Cup, the first edition to be held in Latin America, FIFA announced on Wednesday.

In addition to the iconic venue in Rio de Janeiro, the 64 matches of the competition will be played in Belo Horizonte (Mineirao Stadium), Brasilia (National Stadium), Fortaleza (Castelao Arena), Porto Alegre (Beira-Rio Stadium), Recife (Pernambuco Arena), Salvador (Fonte Nova Arena) and Sao Paulo (Itaquera Arena).

2027 Women's World Cup stadiums

Everybody loves the 1999 team.

Netflix is developing The 99ers, a feature film inspired by the iconic 1999 U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team that won the World Cup on home soil.

Netflix to release documentary on 1999 USWNT World Cup triumph