FIFA’s new Club World Cup seems unpopular for now
Listen to the story (Indian accent)
Some people wonder why the FIFA Club World Cup trophy is in US President Trump’s office.
The trophy is made of 24-carat gold and was designed by Tiffany & Co.. FIFA President Gianni Infantino left the trophy there after his visit to the White House.
FIFA is having difficulties selling tickets for the upcoming Club World Cup. The tournament features 32 teams and 63 matches and will take place in the United States this summer. It starts in less than 100 days, but there are still many tickets available.
The event includes well-known teams such as Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan. There are also less popular teams like Wydad from Morocco and Auckland City from New Zealand. However, even matches with famous clubs have not sold out.
FIFA understands that soccer is less popular in the U.S. compared to other sports and that summer offers many entertainment options. To help ticket sales, FIFA plans to increase marketing, especially in areas like Florida, where soccer is more popular.
The tournament’s new format includes group stages and knockout rounds. In previous tournaments, only eight teams played and there was no group stage. Some leagues, like the Premier League, are not happy because the teams will play too many games.
Some experts believe the tournament could expand the popularity of club soccer and that FIFA is making a bold move by trying something new.
Vocabulary35 words
- Wonder
- to ask yourself questions or express a wish to know about something; think about
- Trophy
- A prize given to the winner of a game or competition; ?
- President
- A person who is in charge of a country or a company; the top person/leader of a company or country
- Carat
- a unit of measure for diamonds and gold (1 carat = 200 milligrams)
- Design
- To make a plan or drawing of something
- Leave
- to go away from a place without taking; leave behind; abandon; to allow something to remain
- The White House
- The place where the President of the United States lives and works; sometimes used instead of “the president” or “the US government”
- Difficulties
- problems or things that are hard to do
- Upcoming
- happening soon
- Tournament
- a contest or competition with only one winner after many games/rounds
- Feature
- to have someone or something as an important part; to present; to appear
- Match
- game; a game or contest between two teams or people where they try to win by playing a sport
- Take place
- happen; occur; go on
- Available
- able to be used: ready for use; accessible; can be bought/purchased
- Include
- to contain; incorporate; to be part of; to have something smaller as a part of it; come with
- Popular
- Liked by many people; something many people like; common; frequent
- Even
- also; used to show that something is surprising, unusual, unexpected, or extreme
- Club
- a soccer team
- Sell out
- When all the items or tickets available are bought and there are none left
- Compare
- To look at two or more things and see how they are similar or different
- Entertainment
- Things that people enjoy doing, like going to sports games or shows, going to amusement parks, doing karaoke, etc.
- Sales
- How many things a company sells; the total number of things sold
- Plan
- want; aim; to intend to do something
- Marketing
- advertising; the action or business of promoting and selling products or services
- Especially
- to show that something is greater or more important than other things; particularly; notably; specifically; for the most part
- Format
- the arrangement; general plan of organization; a method of organizing something; style
- Group stage
- part of a tournament where teams play in groups
- Knockout round
- Part of a tournament where losing teams are eliminated and have to go home
- Previous
- coming or occurring before something else; existing before in time or order; preceding
- League
- a group of sports teams or players who play games against each other to see who is best (Most countries have a professional soccer league)
- Expert
- a person with a lot of knowledge and experience in a trade, job or profession
- Believe
- to think; to imagine; to have the opinion of; assume; suppose
- Expand
- to increase in size or number; to open out; spread
- Popularity
- how much something is liked or not liked; the level or amount something is admired, enjoyed or liked
- Bold move
- A brave or risky action
Quiz
Answer key
1. Gold 2. Gianni Infantino 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Some people _____ why the FIFA Club World Cup trophy is in US President Trump’s _____ .
The trophy is made of _____ -carat gold and was designed by Tiffany & Co. FIFA _____ Gianni Infantino left the trophy there after his visit to the _____ House.
FIFA is having difficulties _____ tickets for the upcoming Club World Cup. The tournament _____ 32 teams and 63 matches and will take _____ in the United States this summer. It starts in less than _____ days, but there are still many tickets _____ .
The event includes well-known _____ such as Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan. _____ are also less popular teams like Wydad from Morocco and Auckland City from _____ Zealand. However, even matches with famous _____ have not sold out.
FIFA understands that _____ is less popular in the U.S. compared to other sports and that _____ offers many entertainment options. To help ticket _____ , FIFA plans to increase marketing, especially in areas like Florida, where soccer is _____ popular.
The tournament’s new format _____ group stages and knockout rounds. In previous tournaments, only _____ teams played and there was no group stage. Some leagues, like the Premier _____ , are not happy because the teams will play too _____ games.
Some experts believe the tournament _____ expand the popularity of club soccer and that FIFA is _____ a bold move by trying something _____ .
Discussion questions
- Why do you think the FIFA President left the trophy in the US President's office?
- Do you think FIFA will be successful in selling all the tickets? Why or why not?
- Why do you think soccer is less popular in the U.S. compared to other sports?
- Do you think this type of tournament will increase the popularity of soccer in the United States?
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