How does the Intercontinental Cup work? After officially raising the curtain on the new Club World Cup, the competition will continue in the next few days of December Intercontinental Cupwhich is nothing other than the original version of the tournament that took place in recent years.
The competition – which until last year was known as the Club World Cup – will continue to take place annually, even when, as this year, the new 32-team Club World Cup will be played, which will instead be played once every four years. A tournament which therefore maintains its initial slot, but which will change its format from this year.
The 2024 edition, which includes five matches, began on September 22 and will conclude on December 18, 2024. The first two matches took place in the countries of the host teams, while the remaining ones will be played in Qatar. From 2024 onwards, for the first time, more than one team per edition will have the chance to play in a FIFA competition on home soil, with the best-ranked club of the two involved in each of the first two matches hosting the match. This means more people will be able to see their team in action in a live FIFA match than ever before.
How does the Intercontinental Cup work? The path of the teams
In the first match, the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup Play-Off, theAl Ainwinner of the 2023-2024 AFC Champions League, beat 6-2 againstAuckland Citywinner of the 2024 OFC Champions League, in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, on September 22, 2024.
Al Ain who then had to face theAl Ahlywinners of the 2023-2024 CAF Champions League, with the latter winning 3-0 on 29 October. Now, the second most successful team in the world will have to contend with the winner of the quarter-final between Pachucawinner of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, and the Botafogo who won the Copa Libertadores last November 30th. The two teams will face each other today, Wednesday 11 December.
On 18 December 2024, Qatar National Day and the second anniversary of the 2022 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and France, the FIFA Challenger Cup champions will face the Real Madridwinner of the UEFA Champions League 2023-2024, in the Intercontinental Cup, fifth and final match.
How does the Intercontinental Cup work? The complete competition calendar
Below is the complete journey towards winning the trophy:
- Al Ain vs Auckland City 6-2
- Al Ahly vs Al Ain 3-0
- Botafogo vs Pachuca, 11 December
- Al Ahly vs Botafogo/Pachuca, 14 December
- FINALE – Real Madrid vs Al Ahly/Botafogo/Pachuca, 18 December
