FIFA Club World Cup draw made for 2023 tournament to be held in Saudi Arabia

Players of Manchester City celebrate after the team's victory in the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final against Inter

Players of Manchester City celebrate after the team's victory in the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final against Inter Credit: (Photo by Tom Dulat - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

FIFA love a feast of football in the Gulf these days and hot on the heels of the World Cup in Qatar last December, the club equivalent tournament will take place in Saudi Arabia this coming December.

The draw took place in Jeddah today with Manchester City placed into the semi-final where they will face the winner of the Club León (Mexico) and Asian champions Urawa Reds tie.

Egyptian side Al Ahly (African champions) were drawn against the winner of the Al Ittihad FC-Auckland City FC match.

Al Ittihad are the host nation representative in the tournament – Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté and Fabinho all play for Saudi Pro League champions.

The winners of that tie will play  the yet-to-be-determined Copa Libertadores champions in the other semi-final.

This is the 20th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, and the first time the tournament will be hosted by Saudi Arabia.

It will take place between 12 and 22 December 2023, with Jeddah staging all of the matches.

About Macdara Ferris

Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile