In-Depth Feature

DOHA - "Stop! Can't you see the metro station is full? Stop!" a frazzled supervisor shouted as green-vested marshals linked arms to contain thousands of fans streaming from the stadium that will host soccer's World Cup final in Qatar.

It was after midnight on Friday and, for hours, nearly 78,000 people had been filing out of the stadium after a near-capacity match tested the small Gulf state's readiness for the tournament, which kicks off on Nov. 20.

We experienced our penultimate UEFA Champions League draw Thursday before the 2024-25 competition throws the 'Swiss model' at us, so we've got to enjoy the concept of a Champions League group of death while we still can.

The draw has gifted us some tantalizing matchups like PSG vs. Juventus, Milan vs. Chelsea, Bayern Munich vs. Barcelona, Liverpool vs. Ajax and Real Madrid vs. Celtic, and don't forget the tournament starts earlier this year (Matchday 1 is Sep. 6-7) because of the World Cup. Let's get down to business.

The Champions League draw 2022-23 date is set for Thursday, Aug. 25, and we now know the 32 qualified teams that'll be drawn into eight groups of four. The group stage draw takes place in Istanbul, Turkey (also the location of the final) at 12 p.m. ET with English-language coverage provided by CBS Sports on Paramount+ and Spanish on Univision and TUDN. 

It's worth mentioning that the group stage will be contracted over an eight-week period this fall because of the start of the 2022 World Cup on Nov. 21.

Opening week of the 2022-23 season is in the books, and by the time next weekend's action gets under way we'll be less than 100 days from the start of the World Cup in Qatar. Every performance truly matters now.

USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter has built a solid core of players over the qualifying cycle that'll comprise a majority of the 26-player squad, but there are still fierce competitions raging and open places for players who go on a tear through the first couple months of the season.

Multiples sources have now confirmed that the Riqui Puig LA Galaxy contract has been agreed to, with the 23-year-old joining from Barcelona on a free transfer despite still having one year left on his contract at the Camp Nou.

Barça manager Xavi told Puig back in May that he wasn't part of the club's midfield plans for the new campaign, and after being left off the team's preseason tour of the United States, the "next Iniesta" has signed a three-year deal ahead of the MLS transfer window closing Thursday.

The 2022-23 Premier League season is almost upon us, meaning Fantasy managers around the planet are tinkering with their squads more often than Pep Guardiola on a Champions League semifinal night.