Man City could face Al Ittihad, Benzema at Club World Cup

European champions Manchester City could face Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad within the FIFA Club World Cup last in December in Saudi Arabia after the draw on Tuesday.

Pep Guardiola’s aspect will face Club Leon or Urawa Red Diamonds within the FIFA Club World Cup semifinals, whereas within the different semifinal, the Copa Libertadores winners, but to be determined, will face Al Ittihad, Auckland City or Al Ahly.

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The host nation’s champions, Saudi Pro League winners Al Ittihad, will kick off the competitors in opposition to Auckland City.

Al Ittihad will hope to repeat Al Hilal’s run final yr, after they grew to become the primary Saudi membership to succeed in the ultimate. They misplaced the ultimate to Real Madrid, the competitors’s most profitable membership with 5 titles.

As but there aren’t any earlier holders on this yr’s version. Internacional of Brazil are the one earlier winners who could nonetheless take the ultimate out there place within the competitors.

CONMEBOL’s participant will solely be identified after the Copa Libertadores last on Nov. 4 with Argentina’s Boca Juniors and Brazil’s Palmeiras, Fluminense and Internacional in competition.

The Club World Cup can be performed from Dec. 12-22 and held in Saudi Arabia for the primary time as introduced in February. The metropolis of Jeddah will host the competitors in two venues.

The 2023 version would be the final of the format — an annual competitors with seven groups — earlier than it expands to a 32-team occasion to be held in 2025 within the United States.

Club World Cup draw:

First Round

Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) vs. Auckland City (New Zealand)

Second Round

Al Ahly(Egypt) vs. Al Ittihad/Auckland City

Club Leon (Mexico) vs. Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)

Semifinals

CONMEBOL Representative vs. Al Ahly/Al-Ittihad/Auckland City

Leon/Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Manchester City (England)