The FIFA Club World Cup begins today when Inter Miami and Al Ahly play the opening game of the tournament at Hard Rock Stadium.
The tournament will last until July 13, but for the group stages, the soccer stars will get used to the unique rules used for American sports.
The Club World Cup, held in the United States, will reportedly regulate three new rules that many stars who play in Europe are not accustomed to.
They will reportedly be practiced in tonight’s Inter Miami vs Al Ahly match. It will involve the pre-match, during halftime, and during the match itself. One of the rules will give the audience a unique experience.
Another may cause issues among players and coaches from teams not used to this new environment during a matchday. Lastly, one will provide a unique experience for the audience at the stadium and fans watching on their screens.
According to reports from ESPN Argentina and Esporte, the FIFA Club World Cup will introduce NBA-style team entrances for the players starting the match at the stadium.
Like the NBA, the team entrances will include having one player at a time be introduced by an announcer onto the pitch.
The captain will enter the pitch last for each team; that would mean Lionel Messi will be lastly introduced for the Inter Miami entrance vs Al Ahly tonight.
These special introductions for players will likely only be done for each team’s first game of the tournament.
Introductions for soccer players are normally a stadium announcer naming the players individually. This unique NBA-style introduction will add a new way for fans to support their players pre-match.
A few soccer games have showcased referee cameras in the past, but now the whole Club World Cup tournament will reportedly include them during broadcasts of the matches.
Something similar was used in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in December 2024. FIFA announced that cameras would return for this summer’s Club World Cup.
Reports from Tiempo de Juego suggest that at the stadium, fans will be able to watch the referee’s reviews live on the VAR.
A feature that may cause unpopularity among the stars is the halftime interviews. These interviews are normally used in the NBA and the NFL.
It has also been in soccer, but in the United States. The MLS and during games for the US Men’s National team have featured halftime interviews with players or managers.
The FIFA Club World Cup will reportedly make these interviews mandatory for players and managers. This could lead to tense interviews with angry managers or players, but full entertainment for fans.
Related: FIFA Makes Deal with Miami Students to Fill Messi’s Club World Cup Opener
Related: Lionel Messi’s Perfect Tournament Record at Risk Ahead of FIFA Club World Cup
