​Saudi Arabia is the host of the 2023 Club World Cup. The competition will be held from December 12 to 22 – the day for which the grand final is scheduled. No less than 7 teams from 6 different confederations are competing for one of the most coveted trophies at the club level:

• Fluminense (Brazil)
• Manchester City (England)
• Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
• Al Ahly (Egypt)
• Leon (Mexico)
• Auckland (Australia)
• Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)

The matches take place at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (capacity 62,345) and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium (capacity 27,000). The two finals are scheduled for December 22 at 17:30 (small final) and 21:00 (grand final) Romanian time.

The hosts open the tournament

Auckland City take on Al Ittihad FC in the first leg at 8pm in front of over 60,000 fans at King Abdullah Sports City.

Then the winner will meet in the quarter-finals with Al-Ahly, and in the semi-finals, on the other side of the table, Fluminense – the representative of South America – will be waiting.

Al Ittihad are not in good spirits heading into the Club World Cup, sitting 5th in the Saudi Premier League. The yellow and black lost on December 7 away to Damak with a score of 3:1. It was the 4th defeat of the season for the team in which Kante and Karim Benzema play. The Ballon d’Or has not changed since November 30 after a 4-2 home win over Al-Khalij, in which he also scored. In the next 2 stages, the French forward did not get into the team.

Manchester City, the debutant of this competition

Pep Guardiola also managed to win this trophy 3 times, with Barcelona and Bayern Munich. In 2009 and 2011, the Iberian proved himself on the technical bench of the Catalans, and in 2013 he won the trophy with Bayern. Ten years later, he has the opportunity to win the Club World Cup again, this time with another club – Manchester City.

“Citizens” are making their debut in this tournament, having won the first UEFA Champions League in the club’s history. They managed to beat Inter Milan in the grand final and secure a trip to Saudi Arabia. Manchester City will enter the competition immediately from the semi-finals, where they will meet either Leon or Urava. Europe has collected 15 gold medals so far, while South America has won the other 4 editions. No other continent has sent a women’s champion to the Club World Cup.

Top 3 favorites of the Club World Cup 2023

Unsurprisingly, the online bookies see City as heavy favorites for the trophy. At the opposite pole is Auckland City with odds of 150.00.

1. Manchester City 1.25
2. Fluminense RJ 7.00
3. Al-Ittihad Jeddah 13.00

Real Madrid are the most successful team in the competition’s history, with 11 winners:

1. Real Madrid – 5 trophies
2. Barcelona – 3 trophies
3. Corinthians – 2 trophies
4. Bayern Munich – 2 trophies
5. Liverpool – 1 trophy
6. Chelsea – 1 trophy
7. Sao Paulo – 1 trophy
8. International – 1 trophy
9. Milan – 1 trophy
10. Manchester United – 1 trophy
11. Inter Milan – 1 trophy

England will have the opportunity to deliver a fourth winner of the trophy in 2023.

Last year, Real Madrid managed to beat Al Hilal 5-3 in the grand final. It was a spectacular game at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, opened by Vinicius’ goal in the 13th minute, Valverde making it 2-0 in the 18th minute and Marega reducing the Saudis’ deficit. By the 58th minute, “Real” scored Benzema and Valverde. Vietto scored, and Vinicius made it 5-2, and the same Vietto closed the score at 5-3 in the 79th minute.