The stage is set for the highly anticipated 2025 FIFA Club World Cup draw, which will take place this Thursday at 1 PM in Miami. The draw will determine the groups for the expanded 32-team tournament, which features eight groups of four teams each.

The opening match is scheduled for June 15 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, where Inter Miami, captained by Lionel Messi and coached by Javier Mascherano, as the A4 seed, will face the A1 team. The final will be held on July 11 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders are the only teams pre-seeded, occupying spots A4 and B4, respectively. However, the allocation of stadiums and cities will be finalized after the draw, with FIFA aiming to accommodate the expected fan turnout for each matchup. The tournament will be hosted across 11 different stadiums.

FIFA has confirmed that the tournament will be streamed worldwide for free on DAZN. Teams tied on points during the group stage will be ranked by goal difference and goals scored. From the Round of 16 onward, tied matches will be decided by extra time and, if necessary, penalties.

The draw includes 12 UEFA teams, six CONMEBOL teams, four teams each from CONCACAF, Asia, and Africa, as well as one team from Oceania and the host nation. Teams from the same confederation, except for UEFA, cannot be drawn into the same group. Consequently, Boca Juniors and River Plate will not share a group, with Boca set to face two European teams in their group.

Only natural grass surfaces will be permitted, and clubs are allowed to secure their own training facilities, provided they notify FIFA. Teams can register between 26 and 35 players for the tournament.

The group stage winners will face the runners-up of corresponding groups in the knockout stage: A vs. B, C vs. D, E vs. F, and G vs. H.

The event will be available for streaming on FIFA.com and FIFA+.

(Information provided by journalist Gastón Edul of TyC Sports)

Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez has suffered a minor fracture in one of the fingers on his hand. Medical assessments have confirmed a bone injury; however, it is not expected to sideline him in the short term.

Aston Villa are set to host Brentford this Wednesday and Southampton on Sunday in Premier League action.

Martínez’s injury was initially a cause for concern after he requested to be substituted at halftime during Aston Villa’s 3-0 loss to Chelsea. At the time, the reason for his substitution was attributed to pain in his lower back.

Lautaro Martínez has been named the 2023-2024 Serie A Player of the Year.

Martínez scored 24 goals last season, finishing as the league’s top scorer, leading Inter to a Serie A trophy. The Argentine was awarded the trophy in a ceremony on Monday in Italy.

The 27 year old was also included in the Serie A Team of the Season and was named as the most valuable player in the league.

Lautaro Martínez adding more trophies to his collection. 🏆pic.twitter.com/XsCaexOFTM

— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) December 3, 2024