27.2 C
Accra
Saturday, February 15, 2025
HomeInternationalMessi to kick off new Club World Cup, Neymar to face Madrid...

Messi to kick off new Club World Cup, Neymar to face Madrid [Full draw]

Date:

spot_img

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will kick off FIFA’s new 32-team Club World Cup when the Major League Soccer side take on Egypt’s Al Ahly in the June 15 opener, the draw for the tournament revealed on Thursday.

Brazilian team Palmeiras and Portugal’s Porto complete Group A alongside Argentina World Cup winner Messi, whose Miami team were handed a spot by FIFA after finishing top of the regular season standings in MLS.

Messi’s former Barcelona team-mate, Brazilian Neymar, will have a reunion with La Liga rivals and European champions Real Madrid in Group H.

Twelve European clubs will feature in the tournament with Manchester City facing Juventus in Group G of a tournament which FIFA president Gianni Infantino said would “start a new era in club football”.

Paris Saint-Germain were drawn in a tough group with Atletico Madrid, Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo of Brazil and Seattle Sounders.

FIFA has had to deal with some skepticism over the need for the tournament and the chances of it capturing the imagination of fans but there was plenty of support for the competition among those at the draw.

Club officials and former players gathered for Thursday’s draw and US President-elect Donald Trump sent his best wishes in a video message before the ceremony, which took place during a 90-minute live broadcast from a television studio in Miami.

“The event is going to be incredible,” said Trump in his message where he praised Infantino as a “winner”.

“We’ve known each other a long time and I’m so honored to have this kind of relationship because soccer is going through the roof as everyone knows,” he added.

The USA will co-host the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada.

Send your news stories to editor@max.com.gh and via WhatsApp on +233 506-367-196
Join our WhatsApp channel for the latest news and updates.

- Sponsored -

Stay Connected

562,687FansLike
2,072FollowersFollow
433,500FollowersFollow
50,215FollowersFollow
88,733SubscribersSubscribe

Latest stories

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related Stories

AGOSA showers love on Christ Faith Foster Home

"The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’...

ECG cuts power to Baba Yara Stadium over GH₵130K debt

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has disconnected power...

DONE DEAL: Kim Lars Bjorkegren Appointed as New Black Queens Head Coach

Kim Lars Bjorkegren has been unveiled as the new...

BROTHERS: A Must-Watch Action Thriller Unfolds Tonight at 8 PM

A Tale of Blood, Betrayal, and Brotherhood-  In a...

AFCON U-20 DRAW: Ghana’s Desmond Ofei Confident Ahead of Challenge

Head coach of Ghana’s U-20 team, Desmond Ofei, has...

Ashanti Regional Minister Meets Asante Kotoko Management at Club Secretariat

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, held a...

KOTOKO NEWS: Media Engagement Postponed

Asante Kotoko SC wishes to inform all media houses...

Men who share financial responsibilities with their wives are failures — Pete Edochie

Veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie has disclosed that married...

Jesus would have gone to hell, if he had married — Kumchacha

The founder and leader of Heaven’s Gate Ministries, Prophet...