Tournament in the USA: 63 games and 1 billion euros: The most important thing about the club World Cup

Bayern are already there, Borussia Dortmund is still coming. It was thunderous in the sunny state of Florida when the Munich vanguard around captain Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller and Jamal Musiala checked after the ten -hour flight in the team hotel in Orlando. “We are really looking forward to the tournament. Everyone wants to win. We want to show our best side,” said Neuer.

The countdown for the club World Cup is running, even if the national players, who like Joshua Kimmich, Harry Kane or Konrad Laimer were still in international use on Tuesday evening, only travel on Thursday.

For BVB, who only plays his opening game two days after Bayern, the USA trip begins on Friday. Trainer Niko Kovac and his team also move into the basic camp in Florida, in Fort Lauderdale. However, without captain Emre Can, who stays at home due to adductor problems.

Dortmund’s new attraction, the 19-year-old Englishman Jobe Bellingham, immediately travels. “We are glad that we were able to implement the transfer before the World Cup and that Jobe will first see Jobe in our colors in the USA,” said BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl.

Jobes older brother Jude Bellingham (21), who wore the black and yellow jersey from 2020 to 2023 and then switched to Real Madrid for over 100 million euros, also runs from the World Cup from June 14th to July 13th.

How does the tournament work?

63 games, 32 participants, 12 stadiums-the FIFA’s World Cup premiere in XXL format not only lasts 30 days, it also breaks down standards. On June 14th, Inter Miami opened the Mammut tournament with the world star Lionel Messi (37) against Egypt Top Top Association Al Ahl. On July 13th, the champion is chosen at the Metlife stage in East Rutherford. The stadium of the NFL clubs New York Giants and New York Jets will also be the setting for the final at the first World Cup with 48 national teams in the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026.

Who is playing alongside Bavaria and Dortmund?

Europe provides the majority of the participants with twelve. A maximum of two per country could qualify here, using Champions League victories in the past four years and one ranking. In addition to Bavaria and Dortmund, FC Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Juventus Turin, FC Porto, Benfica Lisbon and RB Salzburg.

Six participants come from South America, including four from Brazil (Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo). The confederations of Africa, Asia and North/Central America/Caribbean each provide four clubs. Added to this are Auckland City from Oceania and Inter Miami as an additional club from the host country.

How does the group phase for Bavaria and BVB work?

FC Bayern will play its opening game in Group C on June 15 (6 p.m. – all kick -off times) in Cincinnati against the stark outsider Auckland City from New Zealand. On June 21 (3 a.m.) there is a pure duel in Miami with the Boca Juniors from Argentina. On June 24th (9:00 p.m.) it will be in Charlotte against Benfica Lisbon.

The Dortmunders start in Group F on June 17 (6 p.m.) in the final stadium near Manhattan against Fluminense. Then they play twice in Cincinnati, June 21 (6 p.m.) against Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa and on June 25th against Ulsan HD from South Korea (9:00 p.m.).

The group phase is played with eight groups with four teams each. The two best teams reach the round of 16. It continues in KO mode until the final. There is no third place.

It is generally expected that the winner will come from Europe. Paris Saint-Germain must be the first candidate if the team of Luis Enrique can preserve the Galaform of the Champions League final triumph against Inter Milan (5: 0) in Munich. Real Madrid with the new coach Xabi Alonso, Manchester City with goal scorer Erling Haaland and Bayern also want to do it much better than recently in Europe’s premier class.

The former national coach and ex-Bayern coach Jürgen Klinsmann disagrees. “My favorite is Boca Juniors,” said the 60-year-old. Reason: “I think the South Americans are in full swing. They are in the middle of the season.” That is an advantage because the Europeans are tired after a long season.

What can the clubs earn?

In total, FIFA releases one billion US dollar (880 million euros) of prize money for the participants, a good half of them as inaugural money. The winner can collect up to $ 125 million. The bonuses are staggered: there is two million US dollars for a victory in the group phase. From the round of 16 (7.5 million), the sum increases to the quarter -finals (13.125 million) and semi -finals (21 million) to the finalist (30 million) and the winner (40 million).

What criticism is there of the XXL World Cup?

In view of the full schedule, the physical and mental stress of the professionals is particularly critical after a long season. Jürgen Klopp therefore called the tournament “useless”. The unification of the European leagues has submitted a complaint to the EU Commission with the FIFPRO player union.

Where can German fans watch the games?

All 63 games of the tournament can be seen free of charge at DAZN. Spectators have to set up an account with the streaming provider to follow the games. The appearances of FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund are also shown at Sat.1 and in the live stream at JOYN and “ran.de”. The broadcaster acquired a sublicent for the German market of DAZN. Should none of the German teams come to the round of 16, there is one game per ko round and the final live at Sat.1.