The Road to '26: The first step towards success in 2026 is qualifying for the tournament, something no Italian will take for granted after missing out on the last two World Cups. Provided the four-time champions can punch their ticket for 2026, Italy will then have to find some genuine solutions in attack.

The best teams in the world will be in the United States this summer as the FIFA Club World Cup will bring teams from reigning Champions League champions Paris Saint-Germain to the only amateur side in the competition in Auckland City FC from New Zealand.

With the Club World Cup starting this weekend, BBC Sport looks at how seriously the expanded tournament is being taken.

U.S. men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino told FOX Sports' Tom Rinaldi that "anything is possible" when asked about winning the World Cup.

And while the international World Cup is the first thing that comes to mind for most fans, the version at the club level has produced some memorable moments, albeit a bit more under the radar. With the tournament’s ambitious expansion for more teams and a quadrennial format, we’ll be sure to get more of those iconic feats moving forward.

Raised in the Republic of Ireland, Ayman Ben Mohamed reaches the Club World Cup after an unlikely journey to Tunisian side Esperance.

The Athletic is here to guide you through the Club World Cup - and you'll be able to watch the best of the action too

The Club World Cup is nothing new, having first been contested in 2000 as the FIFA Club World Championship. After a hiatus, the tournament has been held every year since 2005, with Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City among the winners in that time.

The officials have been confirmed for the Club World Cup clash between Chelsea and LAFC at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States.

Victory in the Group D opener ended a four-game losing streak and came after days of controversy over Christian Pulisic’s desire to rest during the tournament.