2024 IFCPF Club World Cup Preview
NewsWith the Club World Cup starting tomorrow, IFCPF previews all three teams at the tournament. All games will be streamed live on FECPC's YouTube channel.
FC STOREBรLT
Country: Denmark
IFCPF World Cup appearance: Three
Best finish: 5th (2022, 2023)
FC Storebælt's squad includes nine players returning from the 2023 edition, including Denmark international Viktor Sørensen, whose four goals were the most scored by any FC Storebælt player at the tournament.
There are three players in an IFCPF Club World Cup squad for the first time, with Carl Christian Holm, Bendik Ultved and Magnus Madsen each set for their first involvement at this level.
The team will again be led by Brian Levi Clemmensen, who is grateful for the opportunity to lead a team of players from around Denmark and beyond in their third consecutive appearance at the tournament.
"We are a team from Korsør where the players come from all over the country, and one from Norway also," Clemmensen said.
"We haven’t been here so many years, so we are still learning to perform internationally, so it is so much a pleasure for the team to participate in this tournament."
FC Storebælt finished fifth in last year's six-team IFCPF Club World Cup, and will start its 2024 tournament against Finland's SJK on July 3. All games will be streamed live on FECPC's YouTube channel.
FC Storebælt Squad:
2. Martin Jensen, 3. Carl Christian Holm, 4. Anders Christiansen, 5. Bendik Ultved, 6. Kristian Kaastrup. 7. Glenn Sambleben, 8. Magnus Madsen, 9. Marin Wolf, 10. Oliver Larsen, 12. Christian Kjeldsen. 13. Victor Sørensen, 14. Mads Christian, 15. Jakob Teute (GK), 16. Andreas Thune
FC Storebælt Schedule:
July 3, 6:30 pm kick-off: FC Storebælt (Denmark) v SJK (Finland) (no competition points awarded)
July 4, 7 pm kick-off: FC Storebælt (Denmark) v FECPC (Spain)
July 7, 9:30 am kick-off: FC Storebælt (Denmark) v SJK (Finland)
FECPC
Country: Spain
IFCPF Club World Cup appearance: Three
Best finish: 3rd (2022, 2023)
Each member of FECPC's 2024 squad was also part of last year's Club World Cup contingent, with the absence of Raúl Carillo the only change.
Headlining FECPC's attacking impetus is Aketza Requena who scored 11 goals at the 2023 IFCPF Club World Cup, including five goals in a game against Japanese side Esperanza.
Iñaki Requena returns as FECPC's head coach, looking to lead the tournament's host team to success in Barcelona.
We are all very excited to compete once again in this fantastic tournament," Requena said.
"We hope to have a great championship against two great teams like FC Storebælt and SJK.
"We will participate with a very young squad. Ten of our players are under 24 years old, but they have a great deal of experience in national and international competitions, and they are eager to show the level of Catalan CP football.
"We feel fortunate to be able to play in front of our friends and family and receive their unconditional support as always, but once the ball starts rolling, it's seven against seven, and we will have to do our best to win."
FECPC finished third in last year's six-team IFCPF Club World Cup, and will start its 2024 campaign against Denmark's FC Storebælt on July 4.
FECPC Squad:
1. David Trepat (GK), 2. Mario Sanchez, 5. Pol Aguilar, 6. Aitor Ariño, 7. Alejandro González, 8. David González, 9. Eder Requena, 10. Aketza Requena, 11. Guillem Rivera, 12. Alberto Jiménez, 13. Victor López, 14. Cristian Valenti
FECPC Schedule:
July 4, 7 pm kick-off: FC Storebælt (Denmark) v FECPC (Spain)
July 5, 7 pm kick-off: SJK (Finland) v FECPC (Spain)
SJK
Country: Finland
IFCPF World Cup appearance: Three
Best finish: 5th (2022, 2023)
Finland legend Johannes Siikonen will captain SJK's side, with his experience set to be important during the tournament.
Janne Nykänen will be an another option that SJK will have at their disposal, with the 20-year-old former FC Kontu starlet set to play a role in any potential successes.
Jesse Laajaranta will take the reins as head coach, with assistant coach and team manager Ville Sallinen adding to his coaching staff. Excited about his team's chances in the tournament, Sallinen says the team from Seinäjoki will make their presence felt.
"The team awaits the upcoming tournament with eagerness," Sallinen said.
"As always in CP Football, it will be a great football festival of relentlessness, sportsmanship and respect, all the while fighting passionately for victories.
"SJK is proudly ready to make an impact in this tournament."
SJK will be making its IFCPF Club World Cup debut in 2024. The team's first game in Barcelona, against Denmarl's FC Storebælt on July 3, will now have no competition points awarded. All games will be streamed live on FECPC's YouTube channel.
SJK Squad:
1. Luca Podsendnek (GK), 2. Qasim Fahad, 3. Philipp Kulis, 4. Juha Julmala, 5. Eetu Kuoppala, 7. Jussi Tuominen, 8. Adel Eid, 9. Ville Kuronen, 10. Johannes Siikonen, 11. Janne Nykänen, 12. Heikki Rantala, 13. Touko Korkeamäki, 14. Lennart Schlüter
SJK Schedule:
July 3, 6:30 pm kick-off: FC Storebælt (Denmark) v SJK (Finland) (no competition points awarded)
July 5, 7 pm kick-off: SJK (Finland) v FECPC (Spain)
July 7, 9:30 am kick-off: FC Storebælt (Denmark) v SJK (Finland)