New Delhi: The FIFA Club World Cup is set to begin with the opening clash between Al Ahly and Inter Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday, June 15. The tournament marks a new beginning in global club football, as for the first time, 32 teams will compete for the trophy over four weeks.
The 32 clubs will be divided into eight groups of four competing in a round-robin group stage, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the next stage, which begins with the round of 16 and ends with the final on July 14.
Here are the key changes at the 2025 Club World Cup
Referee body cameras: Referees will wear body cameras during the Club World Cup 2025 matches. The small camera will be attached to the referee’s earpiece, and it will transmit the footage to the broadcast and officiating teams.
Advanced semi-automated offside: The semi-automated offside technology has been around for many years, and it has continued to evolve to make more correct and accurate decisions. An upgraded semi-automated offside system will be used at the Club World Cup 2025. The new technology will use AI, multiple cameras, and ball sensors to speed up the decisions.
Tablets for in-game decisions: To streamline in-game decisions on the touchlines, each team will be given a tablet during the match, which they will use to enter substitutions electronically. This move aims to reduce the chance of errors being made and quicken up the process of communicating with the match officials.
Eight-second goalkeeper rule: The new eight-second goalkeeper rule will make its debut in the upcoming Club World Cup 2025. As per the new rules, goalkeepers will be penalised for holding the ball for more than eight seconds. A penalty will be awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than eight seconds. The rule will apply to all levels of the game from July 1.
Double-touch penalty kick: The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has announced that if a player unintentionally touches the ball twice while taking a penalty kick and still finds the net, they should be allowed to retake. The decision comes after Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez slipped while taking a spot kick in the Champions League match against Real Madrid. The rule will come into force on July 1, but FIFA announced the change would apply to the new Club World Cup.
Only captains can speak to the referee: Only the team captain is allowed to speak to the match officials during the major decisions. The rule has already been applied in various competitions, but was officially added to the Laws of the Game this summer. This rule aims to prevent a referee from being crowded by players.
Here are the new innovations and rule changes in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. The tournament is set to begin on June 15 with the opening match between Al Ahly and Inter Miami. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
