The upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia, between December 12 and 22, may witness an Arab confrontation between the Egyptian Al-Ahly and the Saudi Al-Ittihad, according to the course of the draw that was held in Jeddah today. The inaugural first-round match will bring together the renewed Saudi club Al-Ittihad, with its deals with the French, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante, as the host Saudi champion, against New Zealand’s Auckland City, representing the Oceania continent. The winner of this match will play with Al-Ahly, the African champion, in the second round.
As for Manchester City, which won the European Champions League for the first time in its history, it will start its campaign in the competition starting from the semi-finals, where it will face the winner of the second round match between the Mexican Club Leon, representative of CONCACAF (North, Central America and the Caribbean) and the Japanese Urawa Reds, the Asian champion. Likewise, the champion of the Libertadores Cup, whose identity will be known on the fourth of next November, as he faces the winner of the second match between Al-Ahly of Egypt and Al-Muntasir at the opening.
The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) chose the Saudi city of Jeddah to organize this edition last June, making the Kingdom the fourth Arab country to organize the Club World Cup after the UAE, Qatar and Morocco. On the sidelines of the draw, the head of the Saudi Football Association, Yasser Al-Mishal, said, “Saudi Arabia has a great history in the Club World Cup through the multiple participation of Al-Nasr, Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad clubs.”
He added, “Let’s celebrate sporting values in the Club World Cup, and next December we will celebrate the championship in Jeddah and we welcome all the world.” For his part, Swiss-Italian FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, “We will work to organize the best version in the history of the International Federation.” Benzema also attended the draw, as he considered that “Saudi Arabia is developing little by little, and has reached the international level.”
2023-09-05 13:39:28
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