Online Reporter
Robson Sharuko
H-Metro Editor
LIONEL Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembele − it’s quite an impressive All-Star list at the FIFA Club World Cup set to explode in the United States tomorrow.
With clubs allowed to name initial squads of up to 35 players, it means that 1120 of the world’s finest footballers will be at the tournament, which will feature 32 teams.
For players like Haaland, who usually struggle to make an impact on the global stage because Norway aren’t quite a formidable force in the world, it’s their chance to shine at a truly global tournament.
The players in the United States include 26 FIFA World Cup winners.
And, amid all these stars, there is a Zimbabwean footballer who will be part of this grand party.
Divine Lunga is the only Warrior at the FIFA Club World Cup after having made the trip to Florida with his club Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Brazilians lost in the final of the CAF Champions League, when they were beaten in a close fight by Pyramids of Egypt, and they will be hoping to make a bigger impact at the FIFA Club World Cup.
“It feels great to see one of our players rubbing shoulders with the world’s greatest players,” said local agent Gibson Mahachi, the man who managed Lunga as he moved from the local league to the South African Premiership.
The winners of this tournament will be the first club to be the first true global world champions.
The tournament will feature 63 games in 12 venues and 11 Host Cities in the United States − Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
It is not short on talent as 13 members of the Argentina squad, which lifted the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, including Messi, will feature at this tournament.
Messi’s Inter Miami will take on Al Ahly tomorrow.
“There are nine of France’s victorious 2018 vintage, including Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé and Les Bleus’ then-captain Hugo Lloris of Los Angeles Football Club,” FIFA noted.
“Another three, Ousmane Dembélé, Lucas Hernandez and Presnel Kimpembe, come to the US as European club champions having claimed that title late last month with Paris Saint-Germain.”
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has said:
“The list of participants at the inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup is a true reflection of a tournament that will be the most competitive and inclusive of global football, bringing together the best talents from every continent to decide the true FIFA world club champion.
“We have 26 players who will be seeking to be among the first group of stars to raise two World Cups: the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
“That is history in the making. Also, with 81 countries represented, the FIFA Club World Cup is helping to make football truly global.
“The tournament will be the dream of every fan, a month-long football feast.”
Atlético Madrid have the most FIFA World Cup winners with six.
And, in all this galaxy of stars, there will be a Zimbabwean footballer in the mix.
Who said we are not a football nation?
