Abhay Singh
In December 2024, the highly-anticipated FIFA Intercontinental Cup is scheduled to formally launch, bringing together top football clubs from around the world.
This exciting new tournament is designed to showcase thrilling matchups, with a total of five intense matches leading up to a grand finale.
The climactic championship will see powerhouses like Real Madrid compete against the victor of a riveting series of qualifying games, promising spectators a high-stakes showdown of skill and strategy on the global stage.
The tournament replaces the annual Club World Cup
The inaugural tournament, which was officially announced in December of the previous year, serves as a significant overhaul to the traditional Club World Cup format, now transitioning to a quadrennial event featuring 32 teams starting in 2025.
Kicking off the qualifying rounds, the clash will see Al Ain, victors of the AFC Champions League, go head-to-head against Auckland City, the champions of the OFC Champions League.
After this game, the victor of the CAF Champions League, Al Ahly, will play.
The CONCACAF Champions Cup winners Pachuca will take on the CONMEBOL Libertadores winners in a contest known as the “Derby of the Americas.”
After the winners of these two matches emerge triumphant, they will advance to the Challenger Cup where they will battle it out to secure the coveted opportunity to face Real Madrid in the final showdown.
Furthermore, mark your calendar for December 18, a significant and memorable day as it not only signifies the final match of the prestigious Intercontinental Cup but also aligns with Qatar’s National Day and commemorates the two-year anniversary since the thrilling 2022 World Cup final took place.
Full Schedule of the tournament
Match 1: The FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup Play-Off will take place on 22 September 2024, with Al Ain and Auckland City being the two clubs from Afc Champions League and OFC Champions League 2023-2024 winners respectively. Venue for the match will be Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Match 2: In FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup, on 29 October 2024, Al Ahly (CAF Champions League 2023-2024 winners) will face the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup Play-Off winners in Cairo, Egypt.
Match 3: The FIFA Derby of the Americas will be held on 11 December 2024, featuring CONMEBOL Libertadores 2024 winners and Concacaf Champions Cup 2024 winners in Doha, Qatar.
Match 4: The FIFA Challenger Cup, scheduled for 14 December 2024, will feature matches between winners of Match 3 and winners of Match 2, held in Doha, Qatar.
Match 5: The FIFA Intercontinental Cup match, scheduled for December 18, 2024, will feature Real Madrid (UEFA Champions League 2023-2024 winners) against Challenger Cup winners in Doha, Qatar.
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