Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Asia will host the FIFA Club World Cup for the third year running when the competition kicks off in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.
UAE champions Al Jazira get the tournament underway against New Zealand’s Auckland City at the iconic Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.
The 2017 edition of the intercontinental event concludes 10 days later at Abu Dhabi's Zayed Sports City Stadium, which hosted the 1996 AFC Asian Cup final and will also stage the 2019 final.
In addition to Al Jazira, the Continent is represented by 2017 AFC Champions League winners Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan, who await the winners between Al Jazira and Auckland City in the quarter-finals.
Brazilian side Gremio became the last team to book their spot in the UAE after winning the 2017 Copa Libertadores on Wednesday, while Mexico’s Pachuca and Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca have won the continental competitions in CONCACAF and Africa respectively.
The team to beat, however, are European powerhouse Real Madrid, who will arrive in Abu Dhabi hopeful of becoming the first team in the tournament’s history to successfully defend their title.
Should Los Merengues win the title, that would mean the trophy remains in Spain for a fourth year running after the Madrid club won it in 2014 and 2016 while their arch rivals Barcelona secured the 2015 title.
AFC sides have won medals in six of the 13 editions since the inception of the FIFA Club World Cup, with Urawa the first Asian team to climb the podium in 2007 when they followed their AFC Champions League success with a run to the semi-finals that culminated in a bronze medal.
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