The summer of football is evolving this year with the introduction of the FIFA Club World Cup`s expanded format. Hosted in the United States, this inaugural 32-team tournament brings together clubs from around the globe to compete for a share of a significant $1 billion prize fund.
Many prominent teams are participating in this revamped competition, ranging from UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain to Argentine giants Boca Juniors, all aiming for a deep run. European clubs constitute the largest contingent with 12 teams, while South America sends six representatives. Asia and Africa each contribute four teams, and North America has five participants, including three MLS sides. Oceania is represented by a single club, the amateur team Auckland City.
While the fundamental goal remains winning, the pressure varies for each team. Underdogs such as Lionel Messi`s Inter Miami and Simone Inzaghi-managed Al-Hilal hope to make an impact in a competition widely anticipated to be dominated by European powerhouses. Meanwhile, teams like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Inzaghi`s former club Inter Milan, who finished their domestic and continental campaigns without trophies, view this as a final chance for silverware before the season concludes.
As the action unfolds, here is a look at the schedule and initial results from the Club World Cup (all times U.S./Eastern):
Saturday, June 14
Al Ahly 0, Inter Miami 0
Sunday, June 15
Bayern Munich 10, Auckland City 0
PSG 4, Atletico Madrid 0
Palmeiras 0, Porto 0
Botafogo 2, Seattle Sounders 1
Monday, June 16
Chelsea 2, LAFC 0
Boca Juniors 2, Benfica 2
Flamengo 2, Esperance de Tunis 0
Tuesday, June 17
Fluminense 0, Borussia Dortmund 0
River Plate 3, Urawa Red Diamonds 1
Mamelodi Sundowns 1, Ulsan HD 0
Monterrey 1, Inter 1
Wednesday, June 18
Manchester City 2, Wydad AC 0
Real Madrid 1, Al-Hilal 1
Salzburg 2, Pachuca 1
Juventus 5, Al Ain 0
Thursday, June 19
Palmeiras 2, Al Ahly 0
Inter Miami 2, Porto 1
Atletico Madrid 3, Seattle Sounders 1
Botafogo 1, PSG 0
Friday, June 20
Benfica 6, Auckland City 0
Flamengo 3, Chelsea 1
Esperance de Tunis 1, LAFC 0
Bayern Munich 2, Boca Juniors 1
Saturday, June 21
Borussia Dortmund 4, Mamelodi Sundowns 3
Inter 2, Urawa Red Diamonds 1
Fluminense 4, Ulsan HD 2
River Plate 0, Monterrey 0
Sunday, June 22
Juventus 4, Wydad AC 1
Real Madrid 3, Pachuca 1
Salzburg 0, Al Hilal 0
Manchester City vs. Al Ain, 9 p.m., Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Monday, June 23
PSG 2, Seattle Sounders 0
Atletico Madrid 1, Botafogo 0
Inter Miami 2, Palmeiras 2
Porto 4, Al Ahly 4
Tuesday, June 24
Auckland City vs. Boca Juniors, 3 p.m., GEODIS Park, Nashville
Benfica vs. Bayern Munich, 3 p.m., Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
LAFC vs. Flamengo, 9 p.m., Camping World Stadium, Orlando
Esperance de Tunis vs. Chelsea, 9 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Wednesday, June 25
Borussia Dortmund vs. Ulsan HD, 3 p.m., TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Fluminense, 3 p.m., Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
Inter vs. River Plate, 9 p.m., Lumen Field, Seattle
Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Monterrey, 9 p.m., Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Thursday, June 26
Juventus vs. Manchester City, 3 p.m., Camping World Stadium, Orlando
Wydad AC vs. Al Ain, 3 p.m., Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
Al Hilal vs. Pachuca, 9 p.m., GEODIS Park, Nashville
Salzburg vs. Real Madrid, 9 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Saturday, June 28
1A vs. 2B, 12 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
1C vs. 2D, 4 p.m., Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
Sunday, June 29
1B vs. 2A, 12 p.m., Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
1D vs. 2C, 4 p.m., Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Monday, June 30
1E vs. 2F, 3 p.m., Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
1G vs. 2H, 9 p.m., Camping World Stadium, Orlando
Tuesday, July 1
1H vs. 2G, 3 p.m., Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
1F vs. 2E, 9 p.m., Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Friday, July 4 (Quarterfinals)
TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m., Camping World Stadium, Orlando
TBD vs. TBD, 9 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Saturday, July 5 (Quarterfinals)
TBD vs. TBD, 12 p.m., Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
TBD vs. TBD, 4 p.m., MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Tuesday, July 8 (Semifinal)
TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m., MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Wednesday, July 9 (Semifinal)
TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m., MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Sunday, July 13 (Final)
TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m., MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
