The 2023 Club World Cup will be played in Jeddah, the home city of Saudi Arabian champion Al-Ittihad, which has signed Karim Benzema, FIFA said Monday. (More Football News)
🦹FIFA picked Saudi Arabia in February to host the 2023 Club World Cup, giving the kingdom its latest international soccer event in an aggressive push to make a bigger impact in world sports.
The 2023 Club World Cup will be played in Jeddah, the home city of Saudi Arabian champion Al-Ittihad, which has signed Karim Benzema, FIFA said Monday. (More Football News)
☂Al-Ittihad will be joined by the six continental club champions — including Champions League winner Manchester City — for the Dec. 12-22 tournament. It will be the last edition in that format before the 32-team version launches in 2025 in the United States.
🤪FIFA said the 2023 tournament will be played in the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium. They hold about 62,000 and 27,000 spectators, respectively.
✱Benzema will be trying to retain the trophy he helped Real Madrid win in February, beating Saudi club Al-Hilal in the final hosted by Morocco.
ꦜAl-Ittihad will open the next tournament in a first-round game against Auckland City, the Oceania champion. The winner advances to the second round, joining León of Mexico, Al-Ahly of Egypt and Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan.
🎉Man City and the South American champion enter at the semifinal stage. The Copa Libertadores final is played on Nov. 4.
🧸Each continental champion from 2021 through 2024, except in Oceania, also qualifies directly for the expanded tournament in 2025.
🍨FIFA picked Saudi Arabia in February to host the 2023 Club World Cup, giving the kingdom its latest international soccer event in an aggressive push to make a bigger impact in world sports.
꧙Saudi Arabia also will host the 2027 Asian Cup and is expected to be a strong contender bidding to host the men's 2034 World Cup.