Sport

FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Everything you need to know

This new club competition – the FIFA Club World Cup 202 – will make its debut at a total of 12 stadiums across the United States

Published

1 year ago

September 29, 2024

Ariana News

FIFA will launch an exciting new club tournament next year that will feature the world’s best 32 teams from the six international football confederations.

This new club competition – the FIFA Club World Cup 202 – will make its debut at a total of 12 stadiums across the United States with the final to be played at MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey.

The tournament will kick off on June 15 and end on July 13 next year.

This global event will bring together the most successful club sides from each of the six international confederations: AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC and UEFA.

A total of 12 venues will be used to host the 63 matches which will be played across the United States.

FIFA confirmed the 12 stadiums on Saturday. These are:

MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte), TQL Stadium (Cincinnati), Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), GEODIS Park (Nashville), Camping World Stadium (Orlando), Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia), Lumen Field (Seattle), and Audi Field (Washington, D.C.).

The final, on July 13, will be played at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey

FIFA President Gianni Infantino made the announcement in Central Park, New York and said: “Football is the most popular sport on the planet, and in 2025 a new era for club football will kick off when FIFA stages the greatest, most inclusive and merit-based global club competition right here in the United States.”

“The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will feature 12 fantastic stadiums where a new chapter in football’s global history will be written by great players from the 32 best clubs in the world,” Infantino continued.

“This new FIFA competition is the only true example in worldwide club football of real solidarity and inclusivity, allowing the best clubs from Africa, Asia, Central and North America and Oceania to play the powerhouses of Europe and South America in an incredible new World Cup which will impact enormously the growth of club football and talent globally,” he said.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino made the announcement in Central Park, New York

With the draw set for December, just two of the 32 teams are still to be confirmed: one from South America, the other representing the host country.

How many teams will take part in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, and how do they qualify?

A total of 32 teams will compete in the tournament, with places distributed as follows between the international football confederations.
Africa – 4 CAF teams. Three via champions pathway (CAF Champions League) and one via ranking pathway.
Asia – 4 AFC teams. Three via champions pathway (AFC Champions League) and one via ranking pathway.
Europe – 12 UEFA teams. Four via champions pathway (UEFA Champions League) and eight via ranking pathway.
North and Central America, Caribbean – 4 Concacaf teams. All via champions pathway (Concacaf Champions Cup).
Oceania – 1 OFC team. Via ranking pathway.
South America – 6 CONMEBOL teams. Four via champions pathway (CONMEBOL Libertadores) and two via ranking pathway.
Host country – 1 team.

Which teams have qualified?

Al Ahly (EGY) – 2020/21, 2022/23 and 2023/24 CAF Champions League
Wydad (MAR) – 2021/22 CAF Champions League
ES Tunis (TUN) – CAF ranking pathway
Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) – CAF ranking pathway
Al Hilal (KSA) – 2021 AFC Champions League
Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) – 2022 AFC Champions League
Al Ain (UAE) – 2023/24 AFC Champions League
Ulsan HD FC (KOR) – AFC ranking pathway
Chelsea (ENG) – 2020/21 UEFA Champions League
Real Madrid (ESP) – 2021/22 and 2023/24 UEFA Champions League
Manchester City (ENG) – 2022/23 UEFA Champions League
Bayern Munich (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) – UEFA ranking pathway
Inter Milan (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway
Porto (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway
Benfica (POR) – UEFA ranking pathway
Borussia Dortmund (GER) – UEFA ranking pathway
Juventus (ITA) – UEFA ranking pathway
Atletico Madrid (ESP) – UEFA ranking pathway
FC Salzburg (AUT) – UEFA ranking pathway
Monterrey (MEX) – 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup
Seattle Sounders (USA) – 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup
Club Leon (MEX) – 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup
Pachuca (MEX) – 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup
Auckland City (NZL) – OFC ranking pathway
Palmeiras (BRA) – 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores
Flamengo (BRA) – 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores
Fluminense (BRA) – 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores
River Plate (ARG) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway
Boca Juniors (ARG) – CONMEBOL ranking pathway

What is the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 format?

A group stage composed of eight groups of four teams per group playing in a single-game round-robin format.

The top two teams per group progress to the round of 16.

A direct single-match knockout stage from the round of 16 to the final.

No third-place play-off.

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Early medal leaders emerge as Winter Olympics continue in Italy

Published

1 day ago

February 9, 2026

Ariana News

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games continued to build momentum over the weekend as the early medal race took shape and athletes delivered standout performances across venues in northern Italy.

After the first days of competition, Italy, Japan and Norway sit among the early leaders on the medal table, each with three medals apiece, including one gold, one silver and one bronze. Sweden follows with two medals, while Switzerland, Slovenia, Canada and China have each secured one medal so far.

Host nation Italy provided one of the Games’ early highlights with its first gold medal, sparking celebrations among home supporters and boosting confidence as competition intensifies.

Elsewhere, traditional winter sports powerhouses have begun asserting themselves in disciplines including speed skating, alpine skiing and cross-country skiing, while team sports such as curling and ice hockey are settling into early round-robin play.

Attention now turns to Monday’s schedule, which features another full day of competition and several medal events. Athletes are set to compete across alpine skiing, speed skating, luge, cross-country skiing and figure skating, while preliminary and group-stage action continues in curling and ice hockey.

With qualification battles tightening, results on Monday are expected to further reshape the standings.

As the Winter Games move deeper into their opening week, storylines are rapidly emerging around defending champions, rising stars and nations looking to build early momentum in the medal race.

Ariana Television holds the exclusive rights to broadcast Winter Olympic events across Afghanistan, providing live coverage to viewers nationwide throughout the Games.

Fans are encouraged to follow Ariana News and Ariana Television’s social media pages for updated schedules, programming information, highlights and results as the competition continues in Milan and Cortina.

Sport

Champions League Elite action continues as qualification race tightens

Published

1 day ago

February 9, 2026

Ariana News

The AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 returns with an action-packed slate of matches today as top Asian clubs continue their battle for qualification in the league stage of the continent’s premier club competition.

With the margin for error narrowing, teams across the region are expected to approach today’s fixtures with urgency as the race toward the knockout rounds intensifies.

Monday’s scheduled matches include:

Al-Wahda vs Al AhliNasaf Qarshi vs Al-ShortaAl Duhail vs SharjahShabab Al-Ahli vs Al Hilal

The fixtures bring together established continental contenders and ambitious challengers, promising a day of tactical contests, attacking football and high-stakes drama as clubs look to strengthen their positions in the standings.

All Champions League Elite matches scheduled for today, February 9, will be broadcast live and exclusively on Ariana Television, giving fans across Afghanistan and the region full access to Asia’s top club football action.

Fans are encouraged to follow Ariana News and Ariana Television’s social media pages for updated match schedules, kickoff times and programming information, as well as highlights and post-match coverage.

As the road to continental glory continues, today’s Champions League Elite fixtures are expected to deliver another compelling chapter in the 2025/26 season.

Sport

New Zealand cruise past Afghanistan by five wickets in T20 World Cup

Despite the strong batting display, Afghanistan struggled to contain New Zealand’s deep and aggressive batting lineup.

Published

2 days ago

February 8, 2026

Ariana News

New Zealand produced a confident all-round performance to defeat Afghanistan by five wickets, chasing down a target of 183 with 13 balls to spare in their first match of the T20 World Cup in India’s Chennai on Sunday.

Afghanistan, batting first, posted a competitive 182 for 6 from their 20 overs, built around a powerful knock from Gulbadin Naib, who top-scored with 63 off 35 balls. Naib’s innings, laced with clean hitting and smart placement, gave Afghanistan much-needed momentum after a mixed start. Contributions from Rahmanullah Gurbaz (27) and Sediqullah Atal (29) helped steady the innings, while late runs pushed the total beyond the 180 mark.

Despite the strong batting display, Afghanistan struggled to contain New Zealand’s deep and aggressive batting lineup.

New Zealand’s chase was anchored by Tim Seifert, who set the tone at the top with a fluent 65 off 42 balls, attacking both pace and spin with ease. Although early wickets fell, Glenn Phillips swung the match decisively with a blistering 42 off 25 deliveries, keeping the required run rate firmly in check.

The middle order ensured there were no late jitters, with Daryl Mitchell (25 not out) and captain Mitchell Santner (17 not out) calmly guiding the team home in 17.5 overs, finishing at 183 for 5.

Afghanistan’s bowlers found moments of success, particularly Mujeeb Ur Rahman, but were unable to apply sustained pressure as New Zealand consistently found boundaries during key phases of the chase.

Afghanistan will face South Africa in their next match on Wednesday.