GM football fans. It’s Monday, June. 30 - Substituted players will be interviewed in the Premier League next season, the Club World Cup group stage saw one million empty seats, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
KEY FIXTURE
Club World Cup, Last 16: Inter Milan vs. Fluminense, 20:00 / 15:00. This is the first competitive meeting of Inter Milan and Fluminense, although they drew 1-1 in a San Siro friendly back in 1961. That stalemate is part of an incredible 14-game unbeaten run for the Brazilians against Italian opposition, with Fluminense winning 10 of those games. Inter will be looking to win three straight games within 90 minutes for the first time since March. See the Club World Cup bracket here.
Results…
Club World Cup: PSG 4-0 Inter Miami (Report / Highlights) | Flamengo 2-4 Bayern Munich (Report)
TOP TALKING POINTS
Substitute Interviews Incoming
Premier League broadcasters in the UK will be permitted to interview substituted players and have limited camera access to dressing rooms from the start of the upcoming season. The unprecedented move is part of a new four-year TV deal worth a record £6.6bn. See how broadcast revenue has changed since 1992 here.
While the Premier League hasn’t confirmed the specifics, it’s believed that substituted players will be allowed to cool down before being interviewed on the touchline during the match. Dressing room access will also be restricted and never permitted during managerial team talks.
Broadcaster access has gradually expanded in recent years. In 2022, a new rule allowed managers to be interviewed at halftime, though participation was entirely at their discretion. Former Crystal Palace head coach Patrick Vieira made history by becoming the first manager to participate in a brief halftime interview–see here.
Winter Club World Cup
Qatar is preparing a bid to host the 2029 Club World Cup, which would require moving the tournament to the winter months. Reports suggest the Gulf nation, where summer temperatures average 37°C (99°F) in July, has already begun speaking to high-level Fifa officials. Qatar is the fourth country to express interest in hosting, following Spain, Morocco, and Brazil.
December 2029 has reportedly been identified as the most likely window, meaning European leagues would need to pause mid-season. However, an international lobby group that represents European football leagues, the European Leagues, is already taking legal action against Fifa over an alleged lack of consultation regarding the tournament’s planning.
Qatar previously hosted the 2022 World Cup, the first held in the Middle East and the first winter edition in the tournament’s 92-year history. Held across November and December, it forced major European leagues to implement extended breaks. The nine stadiums built for 2022 are expected to be reused, helping to minimise staging costs.
… and One Million Empty Seats
The Club World Cup group stage saw one million empty seats across 48 matches. Only 56.7% of publicly listed capacity was filled, with total attendance at 1.67m.
The average attendance was 34,746, slightly higher than the 32,505 average of the previous 18 editions not affected by the pandemic. The current highest-attended match is Paris Saint-Germain’s 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid, which drew 80,619 fans at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena—the largest crowd in Club World Cup history.
In related news, Fifa’s Global Football Development chief Arsene Wenger said that the quality of the pitches in the U.S. has not been good enough. He added that conditions will improve ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host.
POLL
Do you want to hear from players mid-game after they’ve been subbed?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> England Under-21s beat Germany to win their fourth Euro title, one shy of the tournament record held by Spain and Italy (Match Report)
> Liverpool verbally agree a deal with Crystal Palace for centre-back Marc Guehi for a deal worth around £45m (More) | Chelsea have agreed a fee in excess of £50m to sign Brighton forward Joao Pedro (More) | Ruud van Nistelrooy has left Leicester City after overseeing 19 defeats and just five wins from his 27 matches in charge (More)
> Paul Pogba has joined French club Monaco on a two-year contract following his four-year doping ban, which was reduced to 18 months (More) | Lyon’s owner John Textor plans to step back from day-to-day management following the club’s forced relegation (More)
> Former Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has been appointed head coach at Dutch second division club FC Dordrecht (More)
Americas
> Mexico will face Honduras in the Concacaf Gold Cup semi-finals after beating Saudi Arabia (More) | The remaining quarter-finals, Canada vs. Guatemala & United States vs. Costa Rica, will conclude shortly after publication (See Results)
> San Diego’s 3-2 win over Dallas takes them top of the MLS Western Conference, with Vancouver four points behind with two games spare (More); see MLS Conference standings (More)
> USL Championship Western Conference leaders Louisville City FC face North Carolina FC in the USL Cup group stage; the match will conclude shortly after publication (See Result) | See USL Cup standings (More)
Experience the 2025 MLS All‑Star Game Live in Austin
Lionel Messi headlines the just-released MLS All-Star roster, with the match against Liga MX All-Stars set to take place in Austin on July 23.
Tickets are selling out fast, and prices are rising since the roster announcement. But seats are still available. Get your tickets now.*
Rest of the World
> Cristiano Ronaldo has been part of approving a new head coach at Al Nassr as Jorge Jesus, former Al Hilal manager, is set to get the nod (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Friday’s Poll: The MLS announced its All-Star team this week. Should European football introduce an annual All-Star match?
🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🤩 Yes (24%)
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🙅♂️ Nope (74%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (2%)
Your punditry takes:
🤩 V.P: “It would give us fans an opportunity to see players in the same team that we never would get to. Imagine watching prime Messi and Ronaldo in the same team together—that’s pure cinema! But where this match would fit into the current football calendar, I’m not quite sure…”
🙅♂️ W.B: “The players are already playing too many matches, and to add an All-Star match would mean death for Fifa. The players' union would say off with their heads, and teams would be using their second- and third-string players because most would refuse to play. This is a horrible idea.”
🙅♂️ M.M: “Players need time off to recover from their respective clubs and country matches. Some players play over 100 matches in a year. As much as fans love to see their players play, an injured player will not be seen.”
✍️ T.T: “I would say yes because it would be cool to see, but these guys don't need yet another match added to their already packed schedules.”
EXTRA TIME
AI robots are taking over China’s football.
Lyon included in Ligue 1 fixtures despite demotion.
Is Pep going to set a new tactical trend? (video)
USL’s Athletic Club Boise unveil new club crest and colours.
Pogba’s emotional Monaco contract signing.
Barcelona’s new home shirt leaked.
GAME FACE ON
Guess the following centre-backs by their transfers…
Sevilla, Real Madrid, PSG, Sevilla, Monterrey.
Hamburger SV, Fortuna Dusseldorf (loan), Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich.
Nancy, Sevilla, Barcelona, Spurs (loan), Aston Villa (loan), Atletico Madrid.
Scroll below for the answer.
ON TODAY
Club World Cup, Last 16
Inter Milan vs. Fluminense (20:00)
*All times in UK. ET -5. CDT -6. PDT -8. MDT -7. CET +1.
Answer
Sergio Ramos. Jonathan Tah. Clement Lenglet.
Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.
The Club World Cup is the worst idea ever implemented in football. People who have never had anything to do with day-to-day business are coming up with ideas.
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