football
From dpa
December 17, 2023, 5:21 p.m. Reading time: 2 minutesUpdated on December 17, 2023, 7:19 p.m
ARCHIVE – The FIFA Association has chosen the USA to host the 2025 Club World Cup. FC Bayern is certainly there.
Foto: Mike Egerton/Press Association/dpa
Jeddah/Munich (dpa) – The professionals from FC Bayern Munich have another strenuous football summer ahead of them in 2025.
As FIFA announced after the meeting of its council in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the German record champions have already qualified for the premiere of the new Club World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to take place in the USA from June 15th to July 13th with 63 games in total and seven games for the finalists.
Twelve of the 32 teams from Europe are taking part in the new format. In addition to Bayern, the Champions League winners from 2021 to 2023, FC Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City, have already qualified. The winner of the current season in the premier class also receives a ticket.
Due to their good results in the most important European Cup in recent years, in addition to Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, FC Porto and Benfica Lisbon have also secured the right to start. Three other European teams can still qualify. Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are still in the running as the second German club, depending on their further performance in the current Champions League season. More than two German starters are not possible.
Players’ union criticizes decision
The players’ union Fifpro criticized FIFA’s decision, saying it represented a “lack of consideration for the mental and physical health of the participating players as well as a disregard for their private and family lives.” The world association is ignoring the voice of players on the topics of health, well-being and performance, Fifpro said in a statement.
The football summer of 2025 will be particularly intense for the national players. After the Bundesliga final (May 17th), the cup final (May 24th) and the Champions League final on May 31st in Munich, there is still an international match window with possible World Cup qualifiers or the Nations final League between June 2nd and 10th. Five days later the Club World Cup begins overseas.
Discussions about the burden on the top players are programmed. The summer break before the World Cup season is shortened to around a month for the best clubs before the following World Cup season. However, the top clubs have agreed to the new FIFA format and are involved in marketing through their association, the European Club Association (ECA).
In another new competition, the annual Champions League winner from Europe plays against the winner of a qualifying tournament for the other continental champions. The final of this Intercontinental Cup will take place for the first time on December 18, 2024.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:231217-99-329782/4
2023-12-17 18:54:43
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