Real Madrid are favourites for a record-extending fifth success on the Club World Cup, and within the course of maintaining European dominance over South America within the annual event, which kicks off in Morocco on Wednesday.
Real, who gained beforehand in 2014 after which three successive tournaments from 2016 to 2018, are on target for a showdown with Flamengo of Brazil within the remaining however each should play a semifinal match first earlier than they’ll arrange an intriguing decider in Rabat on February 11.
European golf equipment have gained the final 9 editions of the occasion, dominating since 2012 when Brazil’s Corinthians beat Chelsea within the remaining in Japan in a uncommon South American success.
Last 12 months’s Champions League and Copa Libertadores winners solely be part of as soon as the event reaches the ultimate 4 stage however it begins on Wednesday when Egypt’s Al Ahly, who qualify as one in every of two African representatives, meet Auckland City in Tangier in a gap playoff tie.
The Oceania champions from New Zealand compete for a report tenth time within the event in opposition to the equally skilled Cairo giants, who’re at their eighth Club World Cup.
That winner advances to a quarter-final conflict on Saturday in opposition to Seattle Sounders. The U.S. membership gained final 12 months’s CONCACAF Champions League however had a depressing Major League Soccer marketing campaign.
African champions Wydad Casablanca can anticipate passionate residence help for his or her recreation the identical day in opposition to Asian counterparts Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia. Wydad’s squad consists of three gamers from the Morocco staff that reached the World Cup semi-final in Qatar in December.
Flamengo will solely play their first recreation within the semi-final on Feb. 7 and Real Madrid at some point later.
The event shall be used to experiment additional tweaks to the Video Assistant Referee system as referees will, for the primary time, clarify the explanations for VAR selections to the gang on the stadium and the tv viewers.
During the trial, referees will relay their selections by way of a microphone linked to the general public handle system, although their dialog with video officers will stay non-public.
The event in Morocco is among the many final with the present format as FIFA have introduced they’ll host an expanded Club World Cup with 32 groups in mid-2025.
