Club World Cup Draw Revealed, MLS Cup Final Showdown, and Bundesliga’s €4.48bn TV Deal Announced
Plus: Saudi Arabia eyes invitation to the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup
👋🏻 Welcome to Starting 11! This week, Ecuador’s Pedro Perlaza was rescued from a harrowing kidnapping ordeal, while the AFC Champions League Two's knockout stage lineup is set. The Premier League gears up for a fiery Round 15 with the Merseyside derby and Tottenham vs. Chelsea headlining. Meanwhile, Leagues Cup 2025 reveals a streamlined format. Stay tuned for the biggest stories shaping football on and off the pitch!
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The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup draw promises blockbuster clashes, with Manchester City set to face Juventus in Group G. Meanwhile, Neymar's Al Hilal will reignite his Clasico rivalry against Real Madrid in Group H. The tournament, hosted in the U.S., opens at Hard Rock Stadium in June, potentially featuring Lionel Messi with Inter Miami. Chelsea starts against FC Leon, and Bayern Munich faces Boca Juniors in a tantalizing Group C matchup. The final showdown is set for July 13 at MetLife Stadium. Buckle up, football fans—this summer’s heating up!
The AFC Champions League Two Round of 16 lineup is set after an exhilarating group stage finale. Singapore's Lion City Sailors dazzled with a 5-2 win over Port FC to top Group F, while Thailand’s Muangthong United secured their spot with a narrow victory over Jeonbuk Hyundai. Notable group winners include Tractor FC (Group A), Al Taawoun (Group B), and Shabab Al Ahli (Group D). The knockout stage kicks off in February 2025, with the single-leg final slated for May 17. All eyes now turn to the draw on December 12 in Kuala Lumpur.
RSC Anderlecht powered past Westerlo 4-1 in the Croky Cup, earning a spot in the quarter-finals against Beerschot. Goals from Mathias Zanka, Moussa Ndiaye, and a brace by Kasper Dolberg sealed the victory. Westerlo initially took the lead with Thomas Van Den Keybus's volley, but Anderlecht’s relentless attack turned the tide, highlighted by Dolberg's clinical finishing. Injuries and substitutions reshaped the game, yet Anderlecht maintained dominance. A win against Beerschot could set up a semifinal clash with Antwerp or Union Saint-Gilloise.
The Premier League’s Round of 15 is packed with thrilling matchups, headlined by the Merseyside derby as Everton host title-chasing Liverpool on December 7, marking Arne Slot's derby debut. Later, Tottenham faces Chelsea in a fierce London clash, with Ange Postecoglou seeking redemption after last season's losses. Other highlights include Manchester United welcoming surprise package Nottingham Forest, and Arsenal's trip to Fulham. The round wraps on Monday night with West Ham taking on Wolves.
Serie A Matchday 15 serves up thrilling fixtures as the title race intensifies. On Friday, Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta hosts AC Milan and Christian Pulisic in Bergamo, while Inter seeks redemption against Parma at San Siro after the abandoned Fiorentina clash. Napoli, table-toppers, face a high-stakes test against Lazio on Sunday, as Antonio Conte aims to maintain momentum. Other key matches include Juventus vs. Bologna and AS Roma vs. Lecce on Saturday.
The 2024 MLS Cup Final pits the seasoned LA Galaxy against the underdog New York Red Bulls on December 7 at Dignity Health Sports Park. LA, chasing a record sixth title, boasts an unbeaten home record and a formidable attack despite Riqui Puig's injury. Meanwhile, the Red Bulls have stunned as the No. 7 seed, powered by Emil Forsberg’s return and Carlos Coronel’s stellar goalkeeping. Can LA cement their legacy, or will the Red Bulls make history with their first-ever championship?
Ecuadorian soccer player Pedro Perlaza, currently with Delfin and a key figure in Ecuador's 2022 World Cup campaign, has been rescued after a harrowing kidnapping ordeal. Perlaza and a friend were abducted in Esmeraldas while heading to a party. The Anti-Kidnapping and Extortion Unit (UNASE) safely freed them from a rural area last Wednesday. This incident highlights Ecuador's escalating crime crisis, with violent deaths surging by 65% in 2023.
Unión Española striker Valentín Vidal has been arrested on accusations of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl, a shocking development that has rocked Chilean football. Vidal, who joined the club in 2022 and played 18 matches this season, allegedly picked up the minor from her school under false pretenses and took her to his home, where the assault reportedly occurred.
The incident, first reported by local media, involved prior conversations between Vidal and the victim on Instagram, where messages and recordings allegedly pressured her to meet him. Unión Española, set to compete in the 2024 Copa Sudamericana, issued a statement condemning any conduct of this nature, pledging full cooperation with authorities, and reaffirming its commitment to preventative protocols. This case is the latest in a troubling series of sexual assault allegations involving Chilean football players in recent months.
The Leagues Cup is set for a shake-up in 2025, with reports suggesting a trimmed format featuring just 18 MLS teams against 18 Liga MX sides, down from the previous 47-team extravaganza. The changes aim to alleviate scheduling congestion caused by the Concacaf Gold Cup and FIFA Club World Cup next summer. While the new qualification criteria remain unclear, the move signals a more streamlined approach for the controversial tournament.
The Bundesliga has secured a new €4.48 billion domestic TV deal spanning 2025-2029, marking a 2% increase over the previous contract. The four-year agreement, split between Sky Deutschland and DAZN, includes key changes: DAZN gains the prized Saturday Konferenz while Sky takes over Friday night matches. This recovery after a pandemic-induced decline is celebrated in Germany, though the Bundesliga still trails globally in broadcast revenue compared to the Premier League. With Bayern Munich's dominance dulling international appeal, the league faces challenges in attracting global viewers and boosting its commercial competitiveness.
Saudi Arabia is in discussions to participate as a guest nation in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, set to be held in the United States and Canada. With a history as three-time Asian Cup winners and the only team to defeat Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, Saudi Arabia’s potential inclusion aligns with their deepening ties to Concacaf through a Public Investment Fund partnership. If confirmed, the Saudis would follow in the footsteps of Qatar and South Korea, past Asian invitees. The tournament kicks off on June 14, with the final at Houston’s NRG Stadium on July 6.
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