WORLD AT WAR

THERE is a lywige $1-billion (R17.7bn) up for grabs at the Fifa Club World Cup in the United States over the next month. 

The 32 teams get millions just for pitching up, but while it will be a fight for money, walking off with the crown as the best club in the world is the ultimate goal. 

While South Africa’s hopes are resting on Mamelodi Sundowns, more realistic winners of this crown are Spain’s Real Madrid, England’s Manchester City, Germany’s Bayern Munich or Champions League winners France’s PSG. 

The 32 teams are divided into eight groups, with the top two teams of each group making the Round of 16 playoffs. 

Here’s a closer look at what to expect from each group: 

GROUP A 

FANS will likely flock to watch David Beckham’s Inter Miami, now coached by Javier Mascherano, featuring superstars like Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets. With a nostalgic allure, they are favourites to progress alongside Portugal’s Porto. However, Brazil’s Palmeiras and Africa’s Al-Ahly are determined to challenge that narrative.

GROUP B 

CURRENT European champions PSG are the standout team in this group, believed to glide effortlessly into the playoffs with Spain's Atletico Madrid likely joining them. The competition will include Brazil's Botafogo and the US's Seattle Sounders, who will look to defy expectations.

GROUP C 

WITH Harry Kane leading the charge, Bayern Munich is expected to dominate. The real tussle for the second playoff spot will likely be between Portugal’s Benfica and Argentina's Boca Juniors, with New Zealand's Auckland City looking to pull off an upset.

GROUP D

THIS group promises to be a thrilling spectacle, featuring England's Chelsea, Tunisia’s Esperance, Brazil’s Flamengo, and the US's LA FC. All four sides harbour hopes of advancing, setting the stage for intense competition.

GROUP E 

ITALY’s Inter Milan and Argentina’s River Plate are the faves in Group E, with Mexico’s Monterrey and Japan’s Urawa Red Dragons the other teams. 

GROUP F

SOUTH Africans will hope the F doesn’t stand for failure in the case of Sundowns in this group. Mzansi’s team will have their work cut out for them against the likes of Brazil’s Fluminense, Germany’s Borussia Dortmund and South Korea’s Ulsan. The draw could have been much worse. 

GROUP G

MANCHESTER City and Juventus are poised to assert their dominance, expected to sail through the group featuring UAE’s Al Ain and Morocco’s Wydad.

GROUP H  

SPAIN’S Real Madrid are clear favourites in ths group, with Joao Cancelo, Ruben Neves and their Al-Hilal brasse eyeing the top two. 

Austria’s RB Salzburg and Mexico’s Pachuca are the other teams. 

WEEKEND’S CLUB WORLD CUP FIXTURES

Sunday: Al Ahly v Inter Miami (2am), Bayern Munich v Auckland City (6pm), PSG v Atletico (9pm). 

Monday: Palmeiras v Porto (12am), Botafogo v Seattle Sounders (4am).