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Messi to kick off new club World Cup, Neymar to face Real Madrid (FULL DRAW)

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Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will kick off FIFA’s new 32-team Club World Cup when the Major League Soccer side take on Egypt’s Al Ahly in the June 15 opener, the draw for the tournament revealed on Thursday.

Brazilian team Palmeiras and Portugal’s Porto complete Group A alongside Argentina World Cup winner Messi whose Miami team were handed a spot by FIFA after finishing top of the regular season standings in MLS.

Messi’s former Barcelona team-mate, Brazilian Neymar, will have a reunion with La Liga rivals and European champions Real Madrid in Group H.

Twelve European clubs will feature in the tournament with Manchester City facing Juventus in Group G.

Paris Saint-Germain were drawn in a tough group with Atletico Madrid, Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo of Brazil and Seattle Sounders.

Club officials and former players gathered for Thursday’s draw in Miami and US President-elect Donald Trump sent his best wishes in a video message before the ceremony, which took place during a 90-minute live broadcast from a television studio in Miami.

The final of the tournament will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13.

FIFA had struggled to find sponsors and broadcasters for the new tournament but on Wednesday announced a global deal with streaming company DAZN, who will show the games for free.

FIFA has faced opposition from some in the game over the new tournament.

FIFpro and the European Leagues body filed a joint complaint to the European Commission against FIFA over the introduction of the tournament into the international match calendar.

Opponents of the new tournament have said it adds further congestion to an already crowded schedule and increases the workload of players.

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2025 FIFA Club World Cup draw
Draw for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup draw announced here on Thursday:

Group A

Palmeiras (BRA)

Porto (POR)

Al Ahly (EGY)

Inter Miami (USA)

Group B

Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)

Atletico Madrid (ESP)

Botafogo (BRA)

Seattle Sounders (USA)

Group C

Bayern Munich (GER)

Auckland City FC (NZL)

Boca Juniors (ARG)

Benfica (POR)

Group D

Flamengo (BRA)

Esperance (TUN)

Chelsea (ENG)

Club Leon (MEX)

Group E

River Plate (ARG)

Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)

Monterrey (MEX)

Inter Milan (ITA)

Group F

Fluminense (BRA)

Borussia Dortmund (GER)

Ulsan HD FC (KOR)

Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)

Group G

Manchester City (ENG)

Wydad (MAR)

Al Ain (UAE)

Juventus (ITA)

Group H

Real Madrid (ESP)

Al Hilal (KSA)

Pachuca (MEX)

RB Salzburg (AUT)

AFP

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Nothing can stop us from getting into Champions League final – Arsenal

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Arsenal’s Declan Rice insisted Tuesday the Gunners are confident they can “deliver something special” by overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital in the return match of their Champions League semi-final tie.

“We’re here to win the game. We’re here to make a statement. We want to get to the final. So we need to be ready to go and do that,” Rice told reporters at the Parc des Princes on the eve of Wednesday’s showdown.

“We need to have big balls and we need to go out there on the biggest stage and show that we’re ready to play at this level.

“It’s going to be the biggest night in this club’s history if we can get to the final. So we’re fully ready to go.”

PSG hold the advantage coming into Wednesday’s match after Ousmane Dembele’s early goal gave them a narrow victory at the Emirates Stadium a week ago.

However, both Rice and Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said they believed they could get the better of a side who have eliminated Premier League opposition in each of the last two rounds, knocking out Liverpool in the last 16 and Aston Villa in the quarter-finals.

“I think you need to have full belief,” Rice said.

“We certainly have that as a group. I think if we are the best versions of ourselves tomorrow night -– and we know we can be that –- there is no stopping us getting into that final.”

The England star said Arsenal could lean on the experience of facing reigning European champions Real Madrid in Spain in the last round, when Arteta’s team won 2-1 to progress 5-1 on aggregate.

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“When we went to the Bernabeu the other week there were a lot of questions about whether we could rise to that occasion,” said Rice, who scored two wonderful free-kicks in the first leg of that tie.

“We obviously had a 3-0 lead but there was still so much talk about them coming back and playing at the Bernabeu and we had not experienced that before.

“But I think as a group we handled that amazingly well. We have proved that we can handle big situations and tomorrow night is another massive step for this team.”

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U-20 AFCON: Nigeria battle Morocco to goalless draw

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The Flying Eagles of Nigeria were held to a goalless draw by Morocco in their second Group B match in the ongoing U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tightly contested clash took place on Sunday at the June 30 Air Defence Stadium in Cairo.

Clear-cut chances were few in the cagey affair.

The Flying Eagles controlled proceedings in the first half but managed only one shot on target.

Morocco dominated possession in the second half but failed to pose any serious threat to Nigeria’s goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt.

With the result, Morocco remain at the top of the group on goal difference, having accrued the same number of points as Nigeria (four).

Tunisia, who earlier defeated Kenya 3-1 in the group’s other fixture, are in third place with three points.

The Flying Eagles will face Kenya in their final Group B match on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

NAN reports that the top four teams from the tournament will qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, scheduled to take place from Sept. 27 to Oct. 19. (NAN)

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U20 AFCON: Eagles set for Moroccan firepower

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The Flying Eagles will come up against the firepower of the Junior Atlas Lions of Morocco after the North Africans fought from a goal down to beat Kenya 3-2 in their Group B game of the 2025 U20 AFCON.

The Flying Eagles have expressed confidence of flying high at the U20 AFCON in Egypt after they opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over Tunisia.

On Thursday, Akwa United youngster Auwal Ibrahim ‘Germany’ was Man of the Match, gave Nigeria the maximum points against the Junior Cartage Eagles, who gave as much as they got from their Nigerian counterparts.

Captain Daniel Bameyi said after the win that they are now looking forward to another win against Morocco on Sunday night.

“It is on to the next game. We hope to win and go top of our group on our way to qualifying for the World Cup and winning the tournament,” the Bayelsa United central defender said.

 

Flying Eagles coach Aliyu Zubairu said the win over Tunisia is great for team’s confidence.

“The first game of a competition is often difficult and to get the three points was very important,” he said.

“This will help with our confidence. Nigerians should continue to support and pray for the team and we promise not to let them down.”

The Flying Eagles are seeking a record-extending eighth U20 AFCON title in Egypt.

Morocco fell behind to the Rising Stars of Kenya in the second match in Group B, before they rallied back to win despite missing a penalty and losing two players to injury

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Othmane Maamma was Man of the Match for Morocco to go top of the standings by virtue of having scored more goals than the Flying Eagles.

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