FIFA has released the dates and places of the 2025 Intercontinental Cup clashes, a new model that replaces the former annual club World Cup. The competition starts next Sunday, September 14, with Pyramids FC (Egypt) x Auckland City (New Zealand).
The inaugural match will be played at the June 30th Stadium, in Cairo, Pyramids House, at 15h (Brasília time). It is the first stage of the key that involves the winners of continental competitions in Africa and Oceania, in a single game with classification for the next step.
The winner of this duel will face Asian champion Al –hli, following the tournament. For this second clash, the details have not yet been released.
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Dates of the stages of the Intercontinental Cup
First phase
- 14/09 – 15h – Pyramids (Egypt) x Auckland City (New Zealand)
Second phase
- 09/23 – Time to be defined – AL -AHLI (Saudi Arabia) x First phase winner
- 10/12 – Time to be defined – Cruz Azul (Mexico) x Libertadores Champion (Derby of the Americas)
Semifinal (Copa Challenger)
- 13/12 – Time to be defined – winner of the 1st game of the 2nd phase x winner of the 2nd game of the 2nd phase
Final
- 12/17 – Time to be defined – Winner of the semifinal x PSG
Impact of the Intercontinental Cup in Brazil
Although global, the Intercontinental Cup may affect Brazil. If Flamengo, Palmeiras or Sao Paulo are champions of Libertadores, they will be able to compete in the tournament in this edition. A possible classification motivated adjustments in the calendar of Brazilian football.
With this, the end of the Brazilian Championship was anticipated from December 21 to 7, allowing the semifinals and final of the Brazilian Cup to occur after the closing of Serie A, with a new final scheduled for December 21.
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New Intercontinental Cup format
The competition, which takes place in a new year format, is divided into four knockout phases involving the champions of different continents. The first stage, called the Africa-Pacific Africa Cup, begins with a confrontation between the winner of the Champions League of Africa and the champion of Oceania, in a single game with field command for the best ranked team by FIFA.
Those who win face the Champions League Champion of Asia, also in a single match, defining the winner of this phase and securing a place in the next stage.
Following is the Derby of the Americas, which brings together the Libertadores champion and the Concacaf Champions Cup, in a single game played on a neutral field.
The winning team of this match qualifies for the Challenger Cup, where they will face the Champion of the Africa-Pacific Phase, also in a single game and in a neutral field. The Challenger Cup winner advances to the tournament’s big decision.
In the Intercontinental Cup final, the Challenger Cup champion will face the UEFA Champions League winner, in another unique game played on the neutral field.
Those who win this confrontation will become the intercontinental world champion of 2025 clubs.
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