On Tuesday, FIFA conducted the draw for the 2023 Club World Cup, revealing the matchups and seeding for the tournament. Here are the key details:
- The future champion of the Copa Libertadores could potentially face Al-Ittihad, a Saudi Arabian team that has signed prominent players like Benzema, Fabinho, and Kanté.
- The Conmebol representative, which will be the Libertadores champion, will face the winner of the match between Al Ahly (Egypt) and either Al-Ittihad or Auckland City (New Zealand) in the semifinals.
- Manchester City, the European champions, will compete against León (Mexico) or Urawa Reds (Japan).
- In 2025, FIFA plans to introduce a new Club World Cup format with 32 teams, held every four years, with the first edition set to take place in the United States. Flamengo and Palmeiras are already guaranteed spots in this competition.
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The official Draw for the FIFA Club World Cup
- Game 1: Al-Ittihad x Auckland City
- Game 2: Al Ahly x Game 1 Winner
- Game 3: León x Urawa Reds
- Semifinal 1: Libertadores Champion x Winner of Game 2
- Semi-final 2: Manchester City x Winner of Game 3
- Final: Semifinal Winner 1 x Semifinal Winner 2
Recall that the FIFA World Cup club representatives for South America are Boca Juniors, Fluminense, Internacional or Palmeiras. Others include:
- Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), for Asia
- Al Ahly (Egypt) for Africa,
- Manchester City (England) for Europe
- León (Mexico) for North, Central America and the Caribbean
- Auckland City (New Zealand) for Oceania
- Al-Ittihad, champion of the Saudi League, the Host Country
The current format may change in 2024, with FIFA considering removing the host country’s team and potentially having the final against the Champions League winner at a neutral location
However, the 2023 Club World Cup promises to be an exciting tournament, with top clubs from around the world vying for the title. The competition will run from December 12th to 22nd this year.
