In addition to revealing the dates and new format of the Club World Cup for 2025, which will feature the participation of 32 teams, FIFA announced last Sunday (17) the introduction of the Intercontinental Cup from 2024. This annual tournament between continents will continue a configuration similar to the current World Cup, but with significant changes.
One of the most notable aspects is that the champion of the Champions League will have a direct place in the final, while the winner of the Libertadores will face two opponents to reach the decision, in contrast to the current format, where the South American representative enters directly in the semi-final.
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The South American champion will have its first challenge against the winner of the Concacaf Champions Cup, in a single game at one of the clubs’ stadium. Field command will be decided by draw in the first edition and alternated in subsequent years. The winner will advance to a new phase, facing the survivor of another bracket, involving representatives from the other continents.
This bracket will have two phases, the first between the champion of Oceania and the winner between the champion of Africa and the champion of Asia. In the inaugural edition, by draw, it will be decided which team, between the African and Asian representatives, will face the Oceanians, while the other will advance directly to the second phase, awaiting the winner of the first. In the next editions, Africa and Asia will alternate, year after year, between competing in the first phase and entering directly into the second. The initial stages will be scheduled after consultation with clubs and confederations, but the dates for the final stages have already been determined. The penultimate game, officially called a playoff and which will decide the Champions League champion’s opponent, is scheduled for December 14, 2024 in a neutral venue. The final is scheduled for December 18, 2024, also in a neutral venue, as informed by FIFA.