Instructions:  Conduct research about a recent current event using credible sources. Then, compile what you’ve learned to write your own hard or soft news article. Minimum: 250 words. Feel free to do outside research to support your claims.  Remember to: be objective, include a lead that answers the...

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FIFA World Cup Club begins this month
This month sees the start of the FIFA Club World Cup. Previously an annual tournament including only seven teams, the new Club World Cup will feature more teams from across all six IFA confederations, and occur once every four years.
This year’s Club World Cup is to take place in the United States. The matches are to be played at 12 different stadiums across 11 cities in the country. The tournament will start on Sunday, June 15th, with the final game on Sunday, July 13th.
The 32 teams that are taking part in the Club World Cup will be split into eight groups of four teams. During the group stage, teams in the same group play each other once. After all the group stage matches have been played, the top two teams from each group will proceed to the round of 16.
Then the winners of each round will progress to the quarter-finals, with the semi-finals and finals to follow.
The reigning champions right now are Manchester City, having won the 2023 tournament in Saudi Arabia. There was no Club World Cup in 2024, due to FIFA revamping the cup to have more teams — taking the league from 7 teams to 32.
One well-recognized football star that may be seen is Cristiano Ronaldo. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has noted that “there are discussions” over Ronaldo playing at the Club World Cup because Ronaldo’s club, Al-Nassr of the Saudi Pro League, has failed to qualify for the tournament. Infantino did note that the Portuguese legend, who is out of contract this summer, could still feature in the new event.
This new version of the FIFA Club World Cup has sprouted positive reactions; however, there are also some who want to get rid of the Club World Cups. President Javier Tebas of La Liga (professional football league in Spain) has told FIFA to abandon the Club World Cup. Tebas said it was his “goal” to ensure that there were no more editions of the month-long, 32-team version of the tournament.
Spanish top flight clubs Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are both involved in the tournament, which Tebas has also told FIFA to “eliminate” from the football calendar.
References: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/cp8ydz0e46do,
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/cd62l2xqj69o,
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/why-no-club-world-cup-2024-fifa-tournament-changes-2025/0f47b815ce9c6eee767c9e36,
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6431719/2025/06/17/fifa-club-world-cup-criticism/

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Ava Zhang