Former Ballon d’Or recipient Ronaldinho, alongside ex-Arsenal luminaries Thierry Henry and Mesut Ozil, are set to headline an extraordinary roster for the Over-35 World Cup tournament.
Hosted by the Elite Players Group (EPG), the tournament will showcase eight formidable teams: England, Argentina, Brazil, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and Uruguay.
Scheduled to kick off at the start of June in England, as reported by the Daily Mail, the competition promises an electrifying spectacle.
We're now on WhatsApp. Click here to join.
Read Also: Fans upset as Lionel Messi, World Cup winner, doesn’t play in Hong Kong
Leading the charge for England is Liverpool and Real Madrid icon Steve McManaman, with a lineup anticipated to include Michael Owen, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand, David James, Frank Lampard, and Robbie Fowler.
Comprising sports entrepreneurs and illustrious former players, EPG has appointed captains for each squad.
Below are the Captains for the over-35 World Cup Tournament.
Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina), Emerson (Brazil), Christian Karembeu (France), Kevin Kuranyi (Germany), Marco Materazzi (Italy), Michel Salgado (Spain), and Diego Lugano (Uruguay) are primed to lead their nations as captains in the upcoming tournament.
Which Player are Eligible to Participate in the Over-35 World Cup Tournament?
Only players with a record of 100 club appearances or international caps are eligible for participation.
Joining the Brazil squad are stars like Kaka, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, and Rivaldo, adding to the formidable lineup.
Christian Karembeu is set to take the helm as captain for France, receiving support from Chelsea stalwart Marcel Desailly and Arsenal icon Henry.
Representing Italy, Fabio Cannavaro, Marco Materazzi, and Francesco Totti are gearing up for the tournament, while Esteban Cambiasso, Hernan Crespo, and Pablo Zabaleta are anticipated to showcase their talents for Argentina.
For Germany, Kevin Kuranyi, Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira will make their presence felt, while Spain’s squad is likely to include David Villa and Carles Puyol, with uncertainty lingering over Iker Casillas’ inclusion as goalkeeper.
In a departure from the beloved Masters Football format, matches will feature full 11-a-side action lasting 70 minutes, allowing teams to utilize roll-on substitutes from their 18-man squads.
While the venue for the competition remains unconfirmed, discussions with leading Premier League clubs in the North have reportedly been initiated, as per reports by the Mail.
The quarter-finals are slated for June 4 and 5, followed by the semi-finals on June 8, culminating in the final three days later.
