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Seven-a-side teams from 16 countries will gather in Italy in the new year for the first edition of the Kings World Cup Nations, an undertaking that will see the participation of several high-profile football figures.
The Kings World Cup Nations will feature teams from the Kings League and Americas Kings League, the latter of which was launched by FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League winner Gerard Pique. The competition will take place from January 1 to 12, with the final taking place at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. Select games will be broadcast on CBS Sports Goals Network, including the final.
Here’s what you need to know about the first ever Kings World Cup Nations.
Participating teams
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Peru
- Saudi Arabia
- Spain
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United States
- Uzbekistan
Format and rules
The teams play against each other in a preliminary phase, modeled after the Swiss-style tournament, with the highest-ranked teams advancing to the second round, while others compete in a final round of opportunity. From there, the KWC Nations will operate in a familiar format with a quarter-final, followed by the semi-finals and final on January 12 at the Allianz Stadium in Turin.
The rules of the tournament are similar to the unique format of the Kings League, which Pique launched in Spain in 2022. Games will last 60 minutes instead of 90 and will observe some unconventional rules, as Pique outlined during an appearance on CBS Sports Golazo Network’s Morning Footy.
“There are crazy rules,” he said. “For example, in the last two minutes of the match it is a golden goal. If you manage to score, it counts [times] two. In the last two minutes of the first half we throw a die from the stands and if it’s a two, it’s two against two. If it’s a three, it’s three against three, so it’s pretty crazy.”
Famous investors
Although Pique is the president of the Kings League, he is not the only high-profile name associated with the KWC Nations. Notable Kings League stakeholders include fellow World Cup winners Iker Casillas, Andrea Pirlo, Francesco Totti and Ronaldinho, as well as Champions League winner James Rodriguez and Premier League champion Sergio Aguero. Influencer Jake Paul is also one of those involved in the Kings League.
Kings World Cup Nations schedule
Always Oriental
Wednesday January 1
Japan vs. Italy, 10am (YouTube)
Uzbekistan vs Saudi Arabia, 11am (YouTube)
Argentina vs. Spain, 12:00 (YouTube)
United States vs. Mexico, 1 p.m. (YouTube)
Thursday January 2
Brazil vs. South Korea, 10 a.m. (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
Turkey vs. Ukraine, 11 a.m. (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
Colombia vs. Morocco, 12 p.m. (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
Peru vs. Germany, 1 p.m. (YouTube)
Friday January 3
Japan or Italy vs. Argentina or Spain, 10 a.m. (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
Japan or Italy vs. Argentina or Spain, 11 a.m. (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
United States or Mexico vs. Uzbekistan or Saudi Arabia, 12 p.m. (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
United States or Mexico vs. Uzbekistan or Saudi Arabia, 1 p.m. (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
Saturday January 4
Peru or Germany vs. Brazil or South Korea, 10am (YouTube)
Peru or Germany vs. Brazil or South Korea, 11am (YouTube)
Turkiye or Ukraine vs. Colombia or Morocco, 12:00 (YouTube)
Turkiye or Ukraine vs. Colombia or Morocco, 12:00 (YouTube)
Monday January 6
Japan, Italy, Argentina or Spain vs. Turkiye, Ukraine, Colombia or Morocco, 12:00 (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
Japan, Italy, Argentina or Spain vs. Turkiye, Ukraine, Colombia or Morocco, 1 p.m. (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
Tuesday January 7
Peru, Germany, Brazil or South Korea vs. United States, Mexico, Uzbekistan or Saudi Arabia, 12 p.m. (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
Peru, Germany, Brazil or South Korea vs. United States, Mexico, Uzbekistan or Saudi Arabia, 1 p.m. (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
Wednesday January 8 to Sunday January 12
Knockout rounds will be broadcast on CBS Sports Golazo Network