Latin American Soccer

Mexican side Pachuca won the FIFA Challenger Cup match on penalties in Qatar on Saturday by edging Egyptian side Al Ahly 6-5 after a dour goalless draw following extra time and will face Real Madrid in next week's Intercontinental Cup final.

Pachuca won the shootout after missing their first two penalties to become only the second Concacaf team to reach the final of the competition against European champions Real, which takes place at the Lusail Stadium on Wednesday.

Liga MX’s Club América and Cruz Azul played what is arguably one of the most entertaining matches of the 2024/25 season, with Las Águilas coming out on top with an incredible 4-3 scoreline to seal their ticket to the Apertura 2024 final.

They will face CF Monterrey in what will be their third straight final, looking to win a three-peat for the first time in league history.

FULL TIMEEEE !! pic.twitter.com/JaPpcsiibc

Following are the 32 teams that have qualified for the expanded 2025 Club World Cup to be held in the United States from June 15 to July 13.

Apart from the winners of each confederation's premier club competitions, teams also qualified based on their ranking that was calculated based on their performances over a four-year period.

All 32 clubs playing in the 2025 Club World Cup

UEFA (12 TEAMS)

Chelsea: 2020-21 Champions League winners

Real Madrid: 2021-22 and 2023-24 Champions League winners

Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre ended his side’s 2-0 defeat to Honduras on Friday with blood gushing from his head after being struck by a beer can.

The Honduras fans inside the Estadio Francisco Morazán took the “hostile environment” too far with disgraceful scenes at the full time whistle with objects being thrown on the field and at Aguirre.

Aguirre took a direct hit to the head and started bleeding heavily. Despite being hit, the 65-year-old hardly look bothered by the incident and continued to shake hands with the opposing players and coaches.

What a badass.

Brazilian defender Marcelo has left Fluminense by mutual consent, the Brazilian Serie A club said on Saturday.

The reasons for the 36-year-old former Real Madrid full back's departure were not disclosed.

NOTA OFICIAL

O Fluminense FC e Marcelo Vieira comunicam o encerramento do contrato em comum acordo entre as partes.

Venezuela pulled off a fantastic result in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying with a 1-1 draw vs. Argentina on Thursday. During a pause in the game for an injury there was a small skirmish between Lionel Messi and Venezuela’s Yeferson Soteldo.

When we say “small skirmish” we’re not talking about the heights of the players as Soteldo stands at 5 feet 3 inches tall and Messi is 5 feet 7 inches.

A former referee has admitted to have spared Lionel Messi from a second yellow card in return for his match-worn shirt.

Chilean refereee, Carlos Chandía, has confessed to having purposefully avoided giving Messi a booking. And all in the plan to receive the Argentine’s jersey at the end of a match.

Chandía was in charge of the 2007 Copa America semifinal match between Argentina and Mexico, with the Albiceleste blowing past El Tri with a 3-0 scoreline. 20-year-old Messi scored a beautiful lob to seal his country’s spot in the final.

Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez has been banned for five international matches while several other players were also suspended for their involvement in clashes with fans following Uruguay's Copa America loss to Colombia in July, South American soccer's governing body said on Wednesday.

Rodrigo Bentancur was banned for four games, while Ronald Araujo, Jose Maria Gimenez, and Mathias Olivera each received three-game suspensions.