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FIFA Intercontinental Cup

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Not to be confused with Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004), also known as the European/South American Cup.

FIFA Intercontinental Cup
Organising bodyFIFA
Founded14 March 2023; 19 months ago (2023-03-14)
RegionInternational
Number of teams6
Related competitionsFIFA Club World Cup
Websitefifa.com/intercontinentalcup
2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup

The FIFA Intercontinental Cup is an international men's association football competition organised by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The first edition is scheduled to take place in 2024. The competition features the club champions of the six confederations of FIFA, and is played as a knockout tournament with the European team receiving a bye to the final.[1]

History

On 16 December 2022, the FIFA Council approved the expansion of the FIFA Club World Cup from seven to thirty-two teams beginning in 2025.[2] The 2023 tournament was therefore the last played under the previous format. However, FIFA reported that confederations expressed the need for the champions of their top club competitions to still play each other annually to "stimulate competitiveness".[3] Therefore, on 14 March 2023, the FIFA Council approved a concept for an annual club competition beginning in 2024, later named as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. It will feature the champions of the top club competitions of the six confederations of FIFA, namely the AFC Champions League, CAF Champions League, CONCACAF Champions Cup, Copa Libertadores, OFC Champions League and UEFA Champions League.

The inaugural edition of the tournament is scheduled to take place from September to December 2024.[4]

Format

The competition features a series of intercontinental play-offs between clubs from all confederations except UEFA, whose club will receive a bye to the final.[5][6]

  • First round: As determined by a draw for the 2024 edition, the AFC representative will host the OFC representative in the "FIFA African–Asian–Pacific Cup play-off". In the following year, the CAF representative will host the first round, with the AFC/CAF representatives alternating as hosts thereafter.
  • Second round: The other AFC/CAF representative that does not host the first round will host the winners of the first round in the "FIFA African–Asian–Pacific Cup". Elsewhere, the CONMEBOL and CONCACAF representatives will compete in a neutral venue in the "FIFA Derby of the Americas".
  • Play-off: The two second round winners will face each other in the same neutral venue in the "FIFA Challenger Cup".
  • Final: The play-off winners will face the UEFA representatives in the same neutral venue for the "FIFA Intercontinental Cup".

References

  1. ^ Straus, Brian (14 March 2023). "FIFA Confirms Four-Team Groups for 2026 World Cup, New Club World Cup Qualification". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  2. ^ "FIFA World Cup 2022 praised for its "unique cohesive power"". FIFA. 16 December 2022. Archived from the original on 16 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  3. ^ "FIFA Council approves international match calendars". FIFA. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  4. ^ Nair, Rohith (17 December 2023). "Club World Cup set for June-July 2025, new Intercontinental Cup in 2024". Reuters. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  5. ^ Nair, Rohith (14 March 2023). "FIFA approves 2026 World Cup format with record 104 matches". Reuters. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  6. ^ "World Cup 2026: Fifa switches back to four-team group format". BBC Sport. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
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