Coach Carlo Ancelotti is keeping an eye on Real Madrid’s possible rival in the 2024 Intercontinental Cup final. The Merengue club’s coach stated that he watched the Libertadores final between Botafogo and Atlético-MG and praised Fogão’s performance in the match.
MORE: Botafogo: when the game against Real Madrid could be and what you need to do to get there
— Yes, I saw the game, a fantastic atmosphere, I was enchanted. An incredible first minute of the match, with the shot… (from Gregore, who was sent off). It was incredible. Then the attitude, Botafogo’s commitment was extraordinary, they played a fantastic match. I’m very happy for Allan (who Ancelotti coached at Napoli) also for Botafogo, which is a historic team in Brazilian football and which was able to win the Libertadores for the first time — said the Italian coach.
Ancelotti also stated that he is “delighted” with the possibility of facing Botafogo in the 2024 Intercontinental Cup final, but highlighted that Fogão will have to go through other matches before possibly facing the Brazilian team.
— We are delighted (with the possibility of facing Botafogo in the Intercontinental Cup). They have other matches to reach the World Cup final against us. But congratulations to all of them because it was a great success, they stayed the entire match with 10 players, they made an extraordinary effort — he concluded.
MORE: Libertadores final: how many goals does Luiz Henrique have at Botafogo?
Botafogo debuts at the Intercontinental on December 11th, against Pachuca, from Mexico, in a kind of quarter-final game. If it passes, Fogão has one more game, against Al-Ahly, from Egypt, who eliminated Al-Ain, from the United Arab Emirates, with a 3-0 victory on October 29th.
If they defeat the Egyptians, Glorioso will face Real Madrid, who will enter directly into the final of the tournament. The game is scheduled to take place on December 18th.
What are the teams participating in the Intercontinental Cup?
- Al Ain (United Arab Emirates)
- Auckland City (New Zealand)
- Al Ahly (Egypt)
- Pachuca (Mexico)
- Botafogo (Brazil)
- Real Madrid (Spain)
What are the Intercontinental Cup games like?
Game 1 – African/Asian/Pacific Playoff
- Date: September 22, 2024
- Clubes: Al Ain 6 x 2 Auckland City
- Location: Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
Game 2 – African/Asian/Pacific Cup
- Date: October 29, 2024
- Clubes: Al-Ahly 3 x 0 Al Ain
- Location: Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt
Game 3 – Derby of the Americas
- Date: December 11, 2024
- Clubs: Botafogo x Pachuca
- Location: Stadium 974, Doha, Qatar
Game 4 – Challenger Cup
- Date: December 14, 2024
- Clubs: (Game 3 Winner) x Al-Ahly
- Location: Stadium 974, Doha, Qatar
Game 5 – Intercontinental Cup Final
- Date: December 18, 2024
- Clubs: Real Madrid x Winner of Game 4
- Location: Lusail Stadium, Doha, Qatar
MORE: Who will Botafogo take in the 2025 Club World Cup?
What is the format of the Intercontinental Cup?
The Intercontinental Cup has an unusual format. Real Madrid, champion of the Champions League, enters directly into the final, while the other teams fight for a place in the final – and enter into different phases.
Al-Ain and Auckland played a kind of playoff to decide who would take on Al-Ahly in the second phase. The UAE team beat their New Zealand opponent 6-2 – and then ended up defeated by the Egyptians 3-0.
As a result, Al-Ahly will face, in the semi-final, whoever advances from the quarter-final game between Pachuca and the Libertadores champion. And then it will be known who will take Real Madrid in the final.
What is the difference between the Intercontinental Cup and the Club World Cup?
The Intercontinental Cup has a format similar to the version of the Club World Cup held between 2005 and 2023. And it will be a kind of extra tournament, as FIFA will organize a new World Cup, with 32 clubs, from 2025 onwards.
What will the new Club World Cup be like?
See below details about the format of the new Club World Cup, which will take place in the United States, between June 15th and July 13th, 2025.
- There will be eight groups, with four teams each, that will face each other in a single round
- The top two from each group qualify for the round of 16
- The knockout will be in a single game
- There will be no third place competition
What is the prize pool for the Intercontinental Cup?
- Champion: US$5 million (R$29 million)
- Vice: US$4 million (R$23 million)
- semifinalist: US$2.5 million (R$14.4 million)
- 4th/5th: US$ 1 million (R$ 5.7 million)
- 4º/5º – Al Ain (United Arab Emirates) – US$ 1 million (R$ 5.7 million)
- 6º- Auckland City (New Zealand) – US$500 thousand (R$2.8 million)
