The lineup for the FIFA Membership World Cup spherical of 16 is full. Al Jazeera Sport takes a more in-depth look.
Lionel Messi’s reunion with former membership Paris Saint-Germain and Actual Madrid’s assembly with Juventus are the eye-catching ties of a mouthwatering spherical of 16 on the FIFA Club World Cup.
Real Madrid and Al Hilal‘s victory in opposition to Salzburg and Pachuca on Thursday night accomplished the group stage of FIFA’s reformatted competitors.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a have a look at the highest speaking factors because the expanded 32-team event reaches the knockout stage.
When does the Spherical of 16 start?
The primary match of the knockout phases shall be staged on Saturday, June 28, in Philadelphia, with an all-Brazilian affair as Palmeiras face Botafogo at Lincoln Monetary Area.
Botafogo are the reigning Brazilian and South American champions and beat European champions PSG on the best way to qualifying from their group at Atletico Madrid’s expense.
Sao Paulo aspect Palmeiras – that includes Brazil prodigy and future Chelsea winger Estevao Willian – gained their group and are above Botafogo within the Brazilian league.
Nevertheless, Botafogo are unbeaten of their final 5 conferences with Palmeiras, together with the 2 legs of a Copa Libertadores last-16 tie final 12 months.
When and the place will Messi’s Miami face PSG?
Messi’s Inter Miami had been a shock bundle within the group stage, beating Porto on their option to progressing to the final 16, however a late collapse in opposition to Palmeiras meant they completed second and should face the Argentinian playmaker’s former aspect, PSG.
The match shall be performed on Sunday, June 29, in Atlanta.
This season, PSG ended an extended wait to win the Champions League for the primary time and Luis Enrique’s aspect are anticipated to conquer their MLS opponents, however Botafogo beat them within the group stage to show they aren’t untouchable.
Who will defending champions Man Metropolis face within the spherical of 16?
Holders Man Metropolis face Al Hilal within the subsequent spherical and are available into the knockout part in ominous kind, as the one workforce on the event to win all three group video games.
They’ve scored 11 instances of their final two matches, with a 5-2 destruction of Juventus coming after they put six previous Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates.
A sport in opposition to Al Hilal, the 2021 Asian champions, on Monday in Orlando will give Metropolis no purpose to be afraid, even when the Saudi membership boast quite a few former stars of main European leagues, together with Joao Cancelo.
Is Actual Madrid in opposition to Juventus the tie of the spherical?
This can be a conflict between two conventional European titans who’ve met 21 instances. There have been two Champions League finals between the golf equipment, each gained by Actual.
A 5-2 defeat for Juventus in opposition to Manchester Metropolis suggests they might discover the going powerful in opposition to Madrid.
Actual are adapting to life below a brand new coach in Xabi Alonso, who experimented with a three-man defence in opposition to Salzburg. He’ll hope to have Kylian Mbappe again after the Frenchman missed the group stage with sickness.
What has Dortmund’s criticism been earlier than the Monterray take a look at?
Dortmund coach Niko Kovac has not held again on expressing his emotions about having to play in excessive warmth on the event, so he shall be joyful the sport in opposition to Mexican aspect Monterrey is on the lined and air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Regardless of their complaints, Dortmund have grown into the event. They face former Actual Madrid star Sergio Ramos and a Monterrey workforce that has impressed, notably a creditable draw in opposition to Inter Milan.
FIFA Membership World Cup Spherical of 16:
- Palmeiras vs Botafogo – Saturday, June 28, in Philadelphia (16:00 GMT)
- Benfica vs Chelsea – Saturday, June 28, in Charlotte (20:00 GMT)
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter Miami – Sunday, June 29, in Atlanta (16:00 GMT)
- Flamengo vs Bayern Munich – Sunday, June 29, in Miami (20:00 GMT)
- Inter Milan vs Fluminense – Monday, June 30, in Charlotte (19:00 GMT)
- Manchester Metropolis vs Al Hilal – Monday, June 30, in Orlando (01:00 Tuesday, July 1)
- Actual Madrid vs Juventus – Tuesday, July 1, in Miami (19:00 GMT)
- Borussia Dortmund vs Monterrey – Tuesday, July 1, in Atlanta (01:00 GMT on Wednesday, July 2).
