The Pulse of Football

Jun

2025

Preview: Chelsea face LAFC in opening Club World Cup game

Premier League giants Chelsea start their campaign in the fancy new-look FIFA Club World Cup against MLS side LAFC on Monday, hoping to reaffirm their qualification for next season’s Champions League with a good run against some of the globe’s best sides.

By Alex Roberts

Enzo Maresca’s side won’t want to underestimate the Americans, however. Well-funded and well-rounded, LAFC are one of the better sides in the MLS’ Western Conference and fully deserving to be one of the league’s three representatives.

How did they get here?

Pundit Jamie Carragher may not like it, but Chelsea will be in the Club World Cup by virtue of their Champions League win back in 2021, which is just inside the qualifying period. They also won the old version of this tournament with a 2-1 extra-time win over Brazilian side Palmeiras later that year.

LAFC’s induction was a little less orthodox. Mexican side Club León were expelled due to FIFA’s multi-club ownership rules. Both León and Pachuca, another Mexican club, are owned by the same entity, Grupo Pachuca.

A one-off playoff against Club América ensued, and after their 2-1 comeback win, LAFC will now be putting their domestic season on hold in order to compete with some of the best clubs from Europe and the rest of the world.

A reunion with the most handsome man in football

Chelsea fans will get the opportunity to see cult hero Olivier Giroud once again when these two sides face off. He’s not the player that scored in the 4-1 Europa League final win over Arsenal, but he will be welcomed with open arms.

Now 38, Giroud has struggled since moving to LA from AC Milan as a designated player back in the summer of 2024, scoring just five goals in his 34 games across all competitions for the club.

Funnily enough, two of those goals have come in his last three games and with his penchant for the spectacular and an ability to score a goal from nothing, Chelsea will have to keep an eye of their former forward. He’s not just a pretty face.

A few potential Chelsea debuts

Maresca’s side missed out on deals for Jamie Gittens and Mike Maignan after failing to agree terms with Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan, respectively. That doesn’t mean there won’t be some debuts, however.

New arrivals Liam Delap, Dário Essugo and Mamadou Sarr will all be the squad, along with loan star Andrey Santos. All four of these lads will be hoping to make an impression on Maresca ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Delap is arguably the most exciting of those players. Taking the cursed number nine shirt, the combative forward has drawn comparisons to Diego Costa. If the former Man City academy graduate as a similar kind of impact, the fans will love him.

*Delap’s shot map for his 12 Premier League goals with Ipswich this season*

Denis Bouanga is a problem

Playing anywhere along the forward line but with a penchant for cutting in from the left and shooting, Bouanga is one of the best and most consistent goal scorers in MLS history, he’s going to be a real problem for Chelsea. Eighty-one goals in his 128 games across all competitions for the club speaks for itself.

He was the main man in the win over Club América, dragging LAFC to the Club World Cup with an assist for Igor Jesus’ 89^th minute equaliser and then bagging in the 115^th minute to round off the scoring.

Over his last ten games across all competitions, Bouanga has made 14 goal contributions, there are few players on the planet as in-form as him at this moment in time. He’s never come up against Reece James, though.

Prediction

Chelsea have just ended their season, while LAFC are in the middle of theirs. Don’t expect the Premier League side to be in top gear for this one, all of the European clubs will likely be taking it easy until the back end of the tournament. We’re going to go with a 2-1 win for Chelsea.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Club World Cup with FotMob this summer – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Preview: USMNT start Gold Cup campaign against Trinidad & Tobago

Mauricio Pochettino’s US men’s national team is under pressure to improve at the 2025 Gold Cup ahead of next year’s World Cup on home soil.

By Graham Ruthven

Under pressure

The US men’s national team aren’t where they want to be right now. With the 2026 World Cup on home soil now less than a year away, Mauricio Pochettino’s side are in bad shape. Supporters are starting to panic.

Last week’s friendly defeats to Türkiye and Switzerland only added to the concern, extending the USA’s losing run to four games. The 4-0 loss to Switzerland was particularly damaging as the USA looked grossly out of their depth.

It is important to note that this current USA squad isn’t the one that will play at the World Cup. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest, Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and others are all missing, meaning Pochettino is relying on youngsters and fringe players.

Nonetheless, it’s impossible to ignore the negativity around the USMNT right now. Pochettino needs a good showing at the Gold Cup to turn things around.

Trinidad and Tobago, on the other hand, enter Sunday’s match on the back of a credible 2-1 loss to Costa Rica and a 6-2 demolition of Saint Kitts and Nevis in World Cup qualifying. They are buoyant.

Key players

Diego Luna is the beating heart of Pochettino’s USA. The Real Salt Lake playmaker is one of the few players who looks to have embraced the manager’s ideas, giving the US some much-needed intensity and creativity in the final third.

Patrick Agyemang is another who has earned Pochettino’s trust. The Charlotte FC centre forward is raw and isn’t always the most precise in front of goal, but has the physical attributes to cause opposition defences problems in quick transition.

Tyler Adams will start at the base of the midfield if fit and available while Luca De La Torre could come back into the lineup. The San Diego midfielder was missed in the loss to Switzerland.

*Tyler Adams’ player traits, compared against other midfielders in top 5 European leagues*

At the back, Chris Richards is the dominant defensive presence in the US backline. It will be on the FA Cup-winning centre back to organise and lead the USA in defence.

Levi García found the back of the net for the Soca Warriors against Costa Rica and could similarly be a threat against the USA. Coach Dwight Yorke will also need the experience of Alvin Jones and Kevin Molino to secure a result.

Team news

Adams missed the friendly against Switzerland with a minor injury after playing the second half of the narrow defeat to Türkiye. The Bournemouth midfielder is crucial to the USA who need him in central midfield.

Pochettino faces a decision over his starting goalkeeper. Matt Turner’s rustiness was on display in the 4-0 defeat to the Swiss as he made a blunder which led to the third goal. New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese could be given an opportunity from the start on Sunday.

Josiah Trimmingham suffered a knee injury in the friendly against Costa Rica and won’t feature against the USA. Jones is eligible to play despite being shown a red card in Trinidad & Tobago’s last outing.

Prediction

Despite all the absences and the media talk, we believe the US will have enough to get past Dwight Yorke’s underdogs in this opening contest: USA 2-0 Trinidad & Tobago.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the 2025 Gold Cup with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Preview: PSG make Club World Cup debut against Atlético Madrid

Whether or not the Club World Cup is of interest and whether or not its expansion and existence sits well with everyone, the fact is, some players and some teams simply mean matches will be watched. PSG against Atlético Madrid is likely one of them, with the new-crowned European champions eyeing up a global double.

By Karl Matchett

Elite attack

It’s no surprise that when the biggest teams lock horns, the paying fans want to see the best attackers on show and producing their best form. If they do so here it could be a wild affair indeed – Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on one side; Antoine Griezmann, Julián Alvarez and 20-goal Alexander Sørloth on the other. Of course, this not being a league encounter doesn’t just mean they’ll be allowed free reign entirely, particularly given the managers on the touchlines. Luis Enrique might favour attacking play, but it’s within a very cohesive unit with work rate and structure at the heart of the plan. As for Diego Simeone, the whole world knows his demands only start with world class work rate.

Giant prize?

There is both a new trophy and enormous economical advantages which come with this revamped competition so the clubs will certainly want to see if they can go far. Note: that’s a potential difference between the clubs and the teams. We’re yet to see what the latter think of it.

However, one thing is worth noting: Diego Simeone has said the best way to keep Atlético’s best players is to show them they can win trophies. While Atleti didn’t manage that last season, this competition might be another chance to do so.

The Club World Cup has historically perhaps been seen more as one to win by South Americans than Europeans; Simeone comes into that category, as does one of his sought-after attackers in Alvarez. Of course, one team reportedly keen on the Argentinian forward…is PSG.

*Alvarez’s shot map from LaLiga this season*

End of season form

It couldn’t really have gone much better for the French champions in their run-in: they had already won Ligue 1 but PSG won five on the bounce to complete a treble, claiming the Champions League and Coupe de France in the process. Atlético won three of their last five to finish third in LaLiga, but were way off the pace of champions Barcelona.

Team news

Both have named full squads for the Club World Cup, though it’s difficult to say who might be involved from the outset after long seasons and with a potential seven matches to play here in short succession. Neither have reported major injuries since the end of the campaign.

Key player

Ousmane Dembélé had unquestionably the best campaign of his career, transformed as a hard-working centre-forward who could both create and score for his team. PSG’s best for goals per 90, shots per 90, chances created, xA per 90 and second for successful dribbles.

*Dembélé’s extraordinary season summary*

Prediction

A game where both are happy to let relatively loose, not be constrained too much by future needs and, hopefully, show their technical talents with regularity. If so, goals are the outcome: PSG 2-1 Atlético.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Premier League game with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Preview: Inter Miami kick off Club World Cup against Egyptian giants Al Ahly

All eyes will be on Lionel Messi and Inter Miami as they open the controversial FIFA Club World Cup at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Saturday night.

By James Nalton

Inter Miami qualified for the tournament in controversial circumstances, too.

Though there was no doubt they were the most consistently good team in MLS in 2024, winning the Supporters’ Shield by topping the overall league table in record-breaking fashion, the qualification criteria for a US host team were not known until very late in the day.

In American sports, the post-season playoffs are used to determine that year’s champion, so many thought the host place should have gone to the 2024 MLS Cup winners, LA Galaxy.

But Inter Miami got the nod, meaning FIFA gets Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, et al in their new-look Club World Cup tournament.

Stars still shine, but defence is an issue

Messi is not quite hitting the heights that saw him named MLS MVP in 2024, when he averaged over one goal per 90 minutes, but he remains the league’s outstanding player.

Messi tops the MLS charts for goals and assists combined with 15, is already in double figures for goals with 10, and boasts the highest FotMob rating in the league.

His teammate Luis Suárez is joint top of the assists charts with seven, while Sergio Busquets is still a master at playmaking from deep.

Despite having played a game fewer than most teams, and two games fewer than some others, Inter Miami are the highest scoring team in MLS so far in the 2025 season.

They do have a problem in defence, though, and only four teams in the 15-team Eastern Conference have conceded more goals than Inter Miami’s 27.

*Inter Miami are 24th out of 30 MLS teams in terms of Goals conceded per match*

Coach Javier Mascherano was tasked with adding some solidity to the structure of the side behind the star names, but even though there was a promising start to 2025, the defence soon began to leak.

This will give Al Ahly plenty of encouragement.

Peripheral difference-makers and young prospects

There are a handful of Inter Miami players to look out for outside of the ex-Barcelona stars.

These include 22-year-old Venezuelan Telasco Segovia, Argentine forward Tadeo Allende, 20-year-old American Benjamin Cremaschi, and a couple of young Argentine midfielders, Federico Redondo and Baltasar Rodríguez.

Allende, 26, is second in the team’s goalscoring charts with six, and such performances in support of Messi and Suárez can make all the difference.

Segovia has seven goal contributions so far and has gone some way towards replacing the talent of Diego Gómez, who left for Brighton having been one of MLS’s standout young players.

Al Ahly – genuine giants of world football

Al Ahly qualified for this tournament on the back of their CAF Champions League win in 2021.

It’s a tournament they went on to win again in 2023 and 2024, meaning they met the main qualification criteria for this tournament on three occasions.

This goes some way to indicating the size and pedigree of the Egyptian club, who are one of the biggest in the world, not just in Africa.

*Al Ahly have 12 Champions League titles and are the most decorated side in Africa*

Former Aston Villa forward Trézéguet, who was a youth player at Al Ahly before moving to Europe, has returned to the club ahead of the 2025/26 season and features in their Club World Cup squad.

They are captained by the Egypt national team goalkeeper, Mohamed El Shenawy.

Prediction

Al Ahly’s continental form in the CAF Champions League might give the best indication of how tough a test Inter Miami will face.

The Egyptians were knocked out on away goals in the semifinal against another Club World Cup side, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, and also lost a couple of group games in the most recent campaign.

It is one of the Club World Cup’s intriguing matches, featuring teams who will be looking to show they can mix it with opponents from other leagues, but as is the case in MLS, if Messi fires, Miami will win.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Club World Cup with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Franco Mastantuono prepares for Madrid audition at the Club World Cup

Real Madrid-bound wonderkid Franco Mastantuono could be one of the breakout stars of the 2025 Club World Cup for a River Plate team enjoying his presence while they can.

By Graham Ruthven

River Plate have sent more than their fair share of young stars to Europe. Julián Alvarez, Enzo Fernández and Claudio Echeverri have all used the Buenos Aires club as a springboard in recent years and in Franco Mastantuono they have another wonderkid destined for the highest level of the game.

Mastantuono is a 17-year-old winger reportedly on his way to Real Madrid for €45m this summer. Several of Europe’s biggest clubs including Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea were linked with the teenager, but the Santiago Bernabéu will be the perfect stage for one of the brightest attacking talents anywhere in world football right now.

Before pitching up in the Spanish capital, though, Mastantuono will have the opportunity to make an impact for River Plate at the Club World Cup. The Argentine giants are plotting a run at this summer’s tournament in the USA with their teenage prodigy central to their chances. At just 17, Mastantuono might already be River’s best player.

Normally deployed on the right side of a front three, Mastantuono is a one-man creative hub. He can pass and boasts impressive progressive possession numbers. He can also dribble and is ranked in the 94th percentile for carries into the final third per 90 minutes (3.22). The teenager has an all-round game beyond his fledgling years.

In just 19 matches for River Plate this season, Mastantuono has registered seven goals and four assists. The 17-year-old has been likened to Lamine Yamal in the way he cuts inside off the right wing to take on opponents and pose a goal threat. Such comparisons are lofty, but this is a player widely dubbed the “pearl” of Argentinean football.

Mastantuono has already been capped at international level, making his Argentina debut in a 1-0 away win over Chile earlier this month to become the youngest player in Albiceleste history. Argentina are on the brink of a generational transition with the likes of Lionel Messi, Ángel Di María and Nicolas Otamendi well into the twilight of their careers and Mastantuono’s emergence is timely.

Since making his debut as River Plate’s third youngest-ever player in January 2024, there has been hype around Mastantuono. River quickly inserted a €45m release clause in the contract of their brightest young talent and fast-tracked him into the first team. Not even this, however, will be enough to keep Mastantuono at El Monumental beyond his 18th birthday.

Real Madrid’s interest in Mastantuono is long-standing. The Spanish giants attempted to get a deal done for the winger last year just as he was establishing himself in River Plate’s first team. Real Madrid scouts have reportedly watched Mastantuono from the age of 14, believing he could be a big part of the club’s next generation.

*Mastantuono’s first team career to date*

Of course, Real Madrid already have a collection of teenage prodigies. They spent €60m to sign Endrick as a 16-year-old with the Brazilian joining the Santiago Bernabéu outfit last year. Arda Güler is another wonderkid currently on the books of Los Blancos with Dean Huijsen recently arriving from Bournemouth as one of the best young defenders in the world.

Before Endrick, Güler and Huijsen, there was Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior who were similarly signed for big money as teenagers in South America. Vinícius’ transfer for €46m in 2017 was the subject of particular scrutiny until the Brazilian flourished into one of the best wide attackers in the world. €46m quickly represented money well spent.

The problem for Mastantuono is that there is such competition for attacking places at the Santiago Bernabéu right now that his development could be stunted there. Yamal burst on to the scene because Barcelona were desperate for a right winger. There was a place in the lineup to be earned. Real Madrid don’t currently have the same issue.

Xabi Alonso will remould the team he inherited from Carlo Ancelotti in his own image with the Club World Cup an opportunity to make a winning start as Real Madrid manager. It could be the case that Alonso already has a plan for Mastantuono’s development although his favoured 3-4-3 system might not be a great fit for the Argentine wonderkid.

River Plate insist Mastantuono will remain at the club for the rest of the 2025 season, but the lure of Real Madrid could prove too strong for that to be the case. This is, after all, a club that paid £10m to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold 30 days early. A strong showing by Mastantuono at the Club World Cup could hasten his arrival in Spain.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Club World Cup with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Mauricio Pochettino leads an inexperienced USMNT in to Gold Cup unknown

The United States is seemingly more divided than ever. Attack helicopters fly over LA after the marines were sent in to suppress protestors who march against ICE and their ongoing arrests up and down the country. It feels trivial, but Mauricio Pochettino, an Argentine, will lead the USMNT at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

By Alex Roberts

Concentrating on the football, or soccer, whichever you prefer, Pochettino’s side are in abysmal form heading into this tournament. Four consecutive defeats against Panama, Canada, Türkiye, and most recently, Switzerland mean they are struggling going into a tournament in which they should be considered heavy favourites.

At club level, Pochettino was known to be very hands on, pushing his players to reach the fitness levels required to play in his system, essentially, he loves a bleep test. International management, inherently, doesn’t allow Pochettino to have the required amount of time he needs with his players.

His Gold Cup squad reflects a manager who is struggling to implement his philosophy. Several players have either dropped out after the most hectic season in recent memory or will be playing at the new-look FIFA Club World Cup instead – also taking place in the United States at exactly the same time.

AC Milan duo Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah have been asked to skip the tournament, while players like Folarin Balogun, Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest, and goalkeeper Zack Steffen are either sidelined with injuries or require recovery time. Meanwhile, Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah are competing in the FIFA Club World Cup with Juventus.

As a result, the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss has leant heavily on domestic based players this summer. A massive 15 of his Gold Cup squad play in MLS, with the remaining seven based abroad.

With an average age of 25 years and 119 days, it’s the third youngest ‘roster’ in USMNT Gold Cup history. It also averages just 16 caps, with 21 players making their major tournament debuts, showing just how inexperienced this group of lads are at the top level.

Vancouver Whitecaps striker Brian White (10 goals) and highly regarded Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna (eight goals) are among the top scorers in MLS as the league season reaches its midway point.

Philadelphia Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan, brother of future Man City star Cavan, has the second-most assists (seven) in the league as he heads into his first major international tournament at senior level.

Orlando City right back Alex Freeman, who is enjoying a real breakout season at the club with four goals and two assists in his 19 games across all competitions, made his international debut in the 4-0 defeat to Switzerland, their final warm up game.

Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter did the same. Fresh off the back of his side’s massive 5-0 CONCACAF Champions Cup final defeat to Cruz Azul, his mood wouldn’t have improved after the Switzerland game that’s for certain.

The USMNT is having somewhat of an existential crisis between the sticks at the moment. Shaka Hislop described their current crop of ‘keepers as the worst in their history. While a tad harsh, looking back at the likes of Brad Friedel, Tim Howard, and Kasey Keller, he might have a point.

Matt Turner, who spent last season on loan at Crystal Palace from Nottingham Forest, is their current number one, but New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese was given the nod in the 2-1 defeat to Türkiye on June 7.

*Matt Turner player traits, with comparison against other keepers in top five European leagues*

Turner returned and then conceded those four goals to Switzerland, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. We’ll let him off for the first two goals, although he could have done better for the first, but Switzerland’s third goal was inexcusable for the 30-year-old.

Ricardo Rodriguez’s tame effort was parried by Turner directly into the path of Breel Embolo, who simply couldn’t miss the open goal he was left with. He was visibly annoyed with himself, taking a sip from his bottle and covering his face with a towel.

Poch has options. Chris Brady, the current Chicago Fire goalkeeper, is probably the heir to the throne, if his last five games at club level are anything to go by. He’s just 21 but has 82 first team games for the Fire under his belt. He also has a goatee, which somehow feels right for an American goalkeeper.

The defeat to Switzerland was pretty indicative of where Pochettino’s side are at the moment. Struggling to string more than three passes together at times, they played like strangers, because, essentially, that’s what they are.

*The USMNT are currently ranked 16th in the World by FIFA*

Their Gold Campaign kicks off against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday (June 15). There are 84 places between these two nations in the FIFA rankings but the islanders got the better of their American overlords the last time they met.

Gregg Berhalter was at the helm back then and his time as the USMNT boss wasn’t exactly lauded by the fans. Still, his side back then was more heavily stacked than the one Poch will be using on Sunday.

Robinson, Balogun, Dest, Reyna, Carter-Vickers, and Ricardo Pepi all featured in the game in 2023 but were powerless to stop Trinidad and Tobago from beating them 2-1 in the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final, although they would go on to win the tie 4-2 on aggregate.

Ultimately, the Gold Cup should be viewed as a massive opportunity by those who want to nail down a place in next year’s World Cup squad. Poch has proven he’s not against giving lesser-known players a chance to impress, they just need to take it and run with it.

The ongoing political climate in the US is considered toxic by many around the world looking in, and thousands of people will be traveling to a country that is becoming more and more unwelcoming by the day. Football is an escape, but it shouldn’t avoid what is happening.

In troubling times, this crop of young players can stand up, provide the fans with something to celebrate, and show the world that the ideal in which many still hold the USA isn’t dead.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow the Gold Cup with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

The Club World Cup is here. But why this format? And why now?

It’s here. The FIFA Club World Cup kicks off this weekend, beginning a month-long tournament that will see 32 of the best teams in world football compete for glory in the USA. But just what makes this competition so unprecedented? Let’s dive a little deeper.

By Zach Lowy

The first-ever iteration of the tournament came in 2000, as eight teams from six different federations vied for silverware in the FIFA Club World Championship; that same year, the Intercontinental Cup was held between the winners of the UEFA Champions League and the Copa Libertadores.

After a brief hiatus due to the collapse of FIFA’s marketing partner International Sport and Leisure (ISL), the tournament returned in 2005, whilst it was renamed the FIFA Club World Cup in 2006 following the merger of the Intercontinental Cup and the Club World Championship. On paper, this summer’s tournament will be the 21st edition of the Club World Cup. In reality, however, there’s about as much similarity between this tournament and the previous format as there is between a Tyrannosaurus rex and a chicken.

“This is the first edition of a true Club World Cup,” stated a football executive who wished to remain anonymous. “FIFA wanted to give chances to non-European teams to play against the elite, allowing them to grow in exposure, experience, and revenue, and ultimately hoping that this sparks investment in their nations’ leagues and teams. At the same time, they wanted to allow elite clubs to have more meaningful matches and reach global audiences. UEFA was a bit reluctant because they feared this new competition could “steal” revenue from the Champions League, but eventually, the pressure from European clubs (led by the European Club Association) was very important for the competition to be approved unanimously.”

The previous edition of the Club World Cup took place in the middle of the season, with 6-7 teams participating. However, fans quickly lost interest in the tournament as the sole European team dominated proceedings: between 2013 and 2023, the UEFA representative won on every single occasion. It became apparent that, in order to transform the tournament from a mere afterthought into the talk of the town, and in order to garner the desired advertising and television revenue, drastic changes were necessary.

In 2016, newly appointed FIFA President Gianni Infantino proposed expanding the tournament to 32 teams from 2019 onwards and moving it to June, after the completion of the club season. FIFA mulled over plans in 2017 to increase the pool to 24 teams and schedule it as a quadrennial tournament, replacing the FIFA Confederations Cup. Similarly to the Confederations Cup, it would be held a year before the World Cup, but unlike the Confederations Cup, it would feature clubs, not national teams.

“FIFA didn’t go for a standard ranking system criterion of qualification to ensure that all the European big guns would participate. Instead, apart from the Champions League winners, they limited the participation of European clubs to two per country, which is why they have outsiders from Europe like Porto, Benfica and Salzburg for the first time. That’s why FIFA is pushing so hard on the narrative of making football truly global. FIFA doesn’t want to bring down Europe, but they do want the gap between European clubs and elsewhere to diminish.”

Initially, the plan was to have each of the UEFA Champions League winners, the UEFA Champions League runners-up, the UEFA Europa League winners, and the Copa Libertadores winners from the previous four seasons, as well as the other teams qualifying from Asia, North America, Africa and Oceania. 24 teams looked set to compete for the ultimate prize in China in 2021, only for the COVID-19 pandemic to put the brakes on the proposal. Instead, on December 16, 2022, FIFA announced that the new Club World Cup would take place in June 2025, with 32 teams competing. Six months later, they confirmed the United States as the hosts for the one-of-a-kind tournament. The previous format, meanwhile, has since been rebranded as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, with Real Madrid beating Pachuca in the inaugural edition in Qatar.

It has been far from a smooth ride for the new Club World Cup. Last October, the worldwide players’ union FIFPRO and a union representing the 37 European leagues jointly filed an antitrust complaint at the European Commission in Brussels, arguing that FIFA is abusing its powers as both a tournament organiser and regulator. Various other footballers and dignitaries have also criticized the newly expanded competition, which will result in the longest club campaign in history. LaLiga president Javier Tebas even demanded FIFA cancel the tournament, stating, “You know that the leagues and the players’ football unions don’t want that Club World Cup. Withdraw that Club World Cup now.”

Despite these bumps in the road, the FIFA Club World Cup will commence on Saturday as MLS side Inter Miami face off against Egyptian giants Al-Ahly in South Florida. From Lionel Messi to Kylian Mbappé to Erling Haaland, some of the world’s greatest footballers will be fighting for the opportunity to lift the trophy on July 13 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The eventual winner will not only claim $125 million in prize money, but they’ll also have the chance to wear a golden badge on their shirts with “FIFA World Champions” emblazoned upon it. Unlike the previous winners, who would wear the badge for only 12 months, this year’s winners will be able to wear this badge until the next tournament rolls around in 2029.

Which of the 32 teams will come out on top? Stay tuned for what promises to be an intriguing month of football in the United States.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow the every game from the Club World Cup on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

One Year Out: 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification state of play

The next FIFA World Cup will kick off precisely one year from now on June 11, 2026. After an expansion to the tournament, a record 48 teams will compete on football’s biggest stage in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Over a quarter of the competitors are now known after the latest international break. Here is the state of play across each of the six confederations.

By Neel Shelat

AFC: Uzbekistan and Jordan seal debuts

The AFC has the longest World Cup qualification format, now spanning five rounds. The first round kicked off less than a year after the end of the previous World Cup, but things really started to get serious in the third round, where qualification spots started to get decided.

The 18 remaining teams were divided into three groups of six. The top two in each group have earned a direct ticket to North America at the end of the round robin fixtures, while the teams in third and fourth place stay alive and advance to a further stage.

There were some big stories in each of the groups. Group A saw Iran cruise through along with Uzbekistan, who will make their World Cup debut next year. This historic achievement marks the culmination of decades of hard work for the White Wolves, as their investment in domestic youth development has paid off big time. Behind them, the UAE and previous hosts Qatar advanced to the fourth round.

South Korea topped Group B ahead of Jordan, who will also be debutantes at the World Cup next year. They too have been quietly building towards this success, having reached their first major final at the Asian Cup last year. Iraq finished third and Kuwait came last while Oman and Palestine faced off for fourth place on the final day. The Lions of Canaan needed a win to advance and looked on course to get it until the very last minute of the match, when they conceded an equaliser from the penalty spot.

Group C was the relatively most straightforward, as Japan finished comfortably clear at the top and were followed by Australia, who have made it to their sixth consecutive World Cup. Saudi Arabia had to settle for third place and will be joined by Indonesia in the fourth round.

CONMEBOL: Only three teams miss out

With just 10 teams in the confederation, CONMEBOL have the simplest qualification format with just one round. The expanded World Cup now sees over half of the nations earn direct progression, while one inter-confederation play-off spot is on offer as well.

As a result, there are few big surprises in South America. With the last two rounds of fixtures left, defending champions Argentina have already sealed top spot in the group by some margin. Ecuador and Brazil secured direct qualification this week, with the former putting an impressive campaign together while the Seleção have had a more turbulent time.

Marcelo Bielsa-led Uruguay are also as good as qualified along with Paraguay, who will return to the biggest stage for the first time since 2010.

Behind them, Copa América finalists Colombia still have a job to do to be sure of the last direct spot. Venezuela – the only CONMBEOL side to have never reached a World Cup – are currently a point ahead of Bolivia in the play-off position, so they have a lot to play for in the final rounds. Chile will miss out and will almost certainly be joined by Peru.

OFC: New Zealand get direct ticket

The expanded format must have been most widely welcomed by the OFC, which finally has a direct ticket to the World Cup. They decided it by putting the top two teams from the two second-round groups into play-offs, from where regional giants New Zealand unsurprisingly emerged as the victors. New Caledonia put up a spirited fight against them in the final, though, and will get a second bite at the cherry in the inter-confederation play-offs.

CONCACAF: Stage set for final round

CONCACAF qualifying is very different this time around since the three big-hitters have all been granted qualification as host nations (USA, Canada, Mexico). Three other direct spots and two inter-confederation play-off places are on offer in the third round, for which the 12-team stage has just been set.

Each of the remaining top 11 teams in the federation (by FIFA rankings) are all through, namely Panama, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras, El Salvador, Haiti, Curaçao, Trinidad & Tobago, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Suriname. So, the real big surprise is that 168th-ranked Bermuda advanced from their group, though they will face an even tougher challenge now after the three third round groups are drawn.

UEFA: First round finally starting

UEFA were the last to get their World Cup qualification campaign properly underway. In fact, the six four-team groups are yet to play a single match, but some intriguing stories are brewing elsewhere.

Most notably, Italy might well miss out for a third successive time after falling behind in the battle for the direct qualification spot in their group following a 3-0 humbling in Norway. That result is set to cost Luciano Spalletti his job when a successor is found, with the play-offs looking most likely for the Azzurri due to Norway having already recorded four wins from their opening four games.

The other groups seem straightforward enough so far. The Netherlands, Austria, Belgium (who survived a scare against Wales), England and Croatia all look well on course to earn direct qualification.

CAF: Surprises brewing in the first round

There were no World Cup qualification fixtures in Africa this month, with the CAF qualifiers already at the halfway stage. As things stand, Egypt, South Africa, Morocco, AFCON champions the Ivory Coast, Algeria, and Tunisia are all on course to win their groups and earn the prized direct tickets.

Senegal, DR Congo, and potential debutantes Sudan are locked in a three-way battle for a direct place and a CAF play-off spot in Group B, while Nigeria are in serious trouble in Group C as they currently sit fourth. Cape Verde are a point ahead of Cameroon in their group in what is shaping up to be an unforgettable campaign for the Blue Sharks.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every 2026 World Cup qualifier on FotMob – with deep stats, xG, and players ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Would a move away from Milan unlock Rafael Leao’s true potential?

For a while now, Rafael Leão has been a big fish in a small pond.

By Sam McGuire

The 26-year-old has been the main man for AC Milan for four seasons. He may have signed for the Serie A club in 2019, moving from Lille for an initial €35million, but it took the versatile forward two years to fully acclimatise to life in Italy. After all, he was playing for a third team in three seasons at the age of just 20. Sometimes, patience is needed.

Patience certainly paid off though. When Milan won the 2021/22 Serie A title, Rafael Leão was one of the key players for the Rossoneri. He had the most goal involvements for the club in the league and claimed a FotMob rating of 7.51, an average that only Theo Hernández could better.

*Season summary for Leão’s time at Milan*

Since then, he’s been fairly consistent for the Italian giants. During the 2022/23 campaign, he was the highest rated Milan player with a FotMob rating of 7.39. He also ranked first for goal involvements. He topped the average rating charts again in 2023/24 with a rating of 7.45 but had to settle for a third-place finish in the goal involvements chart. Last season, his 7.21 FotMob rating was third in the Milan squad, but he did rank second for league goal involvements (16) behind Christian Pulisic.

So, across the past four seasons, he’s been ever present in the top three for FotMob rating and goal involvements. And this is even more impressive when you consider the changes at Milan over that time.

Stefano Pioli, Paulo Fonseca and Sérgio Conceição have managed the club across these four seasons. Franck Kessié, Alessio Romagnoli, Sandro Tonali, Pierre Kalulu, Yacine Adli, Ismaël Bennacer and Oliver Giroud have all departed too.

It hasn’t exactly been a consistent environment for Leão. It hasn’t been a club that has everything in place to allow him to flourish. He hasn’t fulfilled the abundance of potential he possesses.

When he burst onto the scene with Sporting, he was tipped to be the next Cristiano Ronaldo. Many have been likened to the legendary forward in the past but few had the same traits as Leão. The versatile winger was taller than your average winger, he had a very upright, powerful dribbling stance and he was explosive over short and long distances. Not only was he quicker than most defenders but he also had the physique to physically bully them.

*Leão’s player traits, with comparison against similar players in top 5 leagues*

You could understand the similarities between Leão and Ronaldo, even at a glance. But, unlike his compatriot, Leão has allowed himself to get a little too comfortable.

The Portugal international has regularly been linked with big-money moves but he seems quite content with Milan. Per reports, he’s the club’s top earner now. He wears the No. 10 jersey and he’s a key part of their attacking unit.

He’s coasting at Milan. He’s well compensated and is fairly free from any real pressures the majority of the time. There’s no real reason for him to seek a move.

But, if reports are accurate, the 2021/22 Serie A champions are clearing the decks this summer and starting again. Theo Hernãndez and Mike Maignan are said to be departing along with Tijjani Reijnders, who has already joined Manchester City. There’s also been talk in Italy that a number of clubs, including Bayern Munich and Liverpool, are looking at Leao.

And this could finally be the summer he moves out of his comfort zone. He could go from being the biggest fish in a small pond to being a small fish in a big pond. And you know what? It might be the best thing for his career.

The Nations League final against Spain was a glimpse of how impactful Leão can be when he’s not the main man. When he’s part of the supporting cast, he can be quite unstoppable.

He played just 46 minutes in the final but was the most fouled player (six). The 26-year-old attempted four dribbles and had two touches in the box against the reigning European champions. Whenever he picked up possession, they looked worried. He was aggressive and direct with the ball. They didn’t really know how to deal with him, so they just kept fouling him.

Put that sort of player in a star studded forward line and he’ll create chaos. Imagine him alongside Michael Olise and Jamal Musiala, for example. Or even in an attack made up of Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz.

If he buys into it and accepts his role as a supporting attacker, with aspirations of being the best, the potential is outright scary. His numbers have been low-key quite good too over the years.

Across his last four seasons in the Italian top-flight, he has 43 goals and 35 assists. During this period, he has an Expected Goals total of 37.2 and an Expected Assists average of 31.3.

This works out at an average of 9.3 xG per campaign and 7.8 xA.

Last season, across 2,323 minutes in Serie A, Leão averaged 2.56 shots, 0.29 xG and 0.33 xA. That is a 0.62 xG Involvement on a per 90 basis, playing as a left-winger for a team that finished in eighth position.

*Leão’s possession numbers, Serie A 2024/25*

Leão, per the UEFA website, racked up a top speed of 36.5km/h too. He’s one of the quickest players in the world. The 40-cap Portugal international has a fairly long deal with Milan (2028 contract) but if they’re looking to rip it all up and start again, £50million could go quite far.

Milan might want a fresh start but Leão definitely needs a fresh start if he’s to level up. He has all of the tools needed to be one of the best left wingers in Europe. He just needs the environment.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can track all the summer moves via the FotMob Transfer Centre. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

What the Jobe Bellingham signing could bring to Borussia Dortmund

Jobe Bellingham is following in the footsteps of his older brother by making the move to the Bundesliga this summer.

By Graham Ruthven

They know how to look after a Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund. After all, it was at the Westfalenstadion where Jude became one of the best young players in the world, ultimately earning a €103m transfer to Real Madrid two summers ago. Now, Jobe is hoping to follow a similar career path to his brother.

Reports claim Dortmund have agreed a fee of €32m with Sunderland to sign Bellingham after the young midfielder helped the Black Cats achieve promotion back to the Premier League. The 19-year-old played 43 games in the Championship last season and is ready for the next step in his development.

Dortmund will give Bellingham a platform to reach a higher level. Comparisons between the two Bellingham brothers are unavoidable, but there are plenty parallels to draw between them, and not just in terms of their decision to move to the Bundesliga at such a young age. Jobe and Jude are cut from the same cloth.

Like Jude, Jobe is an attack-minded central midfielder by trade. At Birmingham City, the younger of the two brothers was given the license to get forward, making good use of his long strides and natural instincts for getting into the opposition box. The two Bellinghams are very similar in this regard.

On top of this, both brothers have an excellent first touch which allows them to operate in tight spaces. Jobe and Jude do their best work when surrounded by opponents when they can use their physicality to shield the ball and find space with it. In a three-man midfield, they can lend a hand to all areas of the game.

Last season, though, Jobe was deployed in a deeper role for Sunderland. This is where the younger brother is perhaps more comfortable, holding his own as one half of a double pivot when Jude Bellingham has sometimes struggled to play his best football in this position. It was in the heart of midfield that Jobe was a central pillar of a promotion-winning side.

“He’s still a young player with the ability to play in many different roles,” said Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris when asked about Bellingham’s best position and the impact he made for Sunderland. “But I like him as a No. 8, because I think he’s an offensive midfielder. He can express his power, his ability to run and his ability to press – to link defence and attack.”

In Germany, Bellingham will surely receive a high number of minutes on the pitch for a Borussia Dortmund team that lacked quality in central midfield last season. Indeed, the 19-year-old will offer the sort of dynamism and energy the likes of Emre Can and Pascal Gross failed to as the Black and Yellows suffered a difficult campaign.

Despite making the Champions League final two seasons ago, there is an acute sense that Dortmund are at a critical juncture in their modern history. For a long time, the Westfalenstadion was a finishing school for some of the best young players in Europe – see Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho, Christian Pulisic, Ousmane Dembélé, İlkay Gündoğan, Mario Götze, Robert Lewandowski and, of course, Bellingham.

*Dortmund secured Champions League football on the final day in 2024/25*

More recently, Dortmund fans demanded that their team build something for the here and now, and in a sense they came close to achieving that objective, coming within one match of winning the Bundesliga title two seasons and the Champions League last season. Dortmund have been football’s nearly men.

Bellingham’s signing signals a shift back to the strategy that made Borussia Dortmund one of the most exciting, vibrant clubs in the world for such a long time. Their project is an enticing one for young players, especially after a late-season run which saw Niko Kovač’s team salvage Champions League qualification. Bellingham will pit himself against some of Europe’s best next season.

Football has produced many pairs of siblings who reached the top level. The Nevilles were important players for Manchester United and England. Kolo and Yaya Touré played together at Manchester City. The De Boers were also brothers who both made their mark at the peak of European football, playing for Barcelona and the Netherlands over a number of years.

In Jobe and Jude Bellingham, English football has two siblings who could be a big part of their next generation. Jude, of course, is already an established member of the national team and widely considered one of the best players in the world. Jobe has a long way to go to reach that level, but his transfer to Dortmund might have moved him a little closer.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Bundesliga with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.