All about FIFA Club World Cup 2023

Given football’s grip on passionate fans from all corners of the world for the better part of a century, it is odd a global club championship wasn’t established until 2000. 

The FIFA Club World Cup had some teething problems at the beginning. After an inaugural clash between Corinthians and Vasco de Gama that failed to spark the imagination (it finished 0-0, with Corinthians winning on penalties) in the year 2000, the Football Club World Cup – as it was then known – was cancelled the following year due to financial issues plaguing FIFA. The subsequent three years of the tournament were also abandoned, and it didn’t return until 2005. 

After a tricky start to its existence, the Club World Cup is now a prominent highlight on the football calendar. Real Madrid are the FIFA Club World Cup winners with the most titles – five altogether – while Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti are the coaches to have won it the most times (three). 

Let’s take a deeper look at the FIFA Club World Championship 2023. 

Format and Participating Teams

Its current format sees participation from the following FIFA Club World Cup 2023 qualifiers: AFC Champions League (Asia), CAF Champions League (Africa), CONCACAF Champions Cup (North, Central America, and Caribbean), CONMEBOL Libertadores (South America), OFC Champions League (Oceania) and UEFA Champions League (Europe). These teams, along with the champions from the host nation, compete in a single-elimination style competition.

This year, the format follows the following structure:

• Entering in the first round – host Al-Ittihad (AFC) and Auckland City (OFC). 
• Entering in the second round – Urawa Red Diamonds (AFC), Al Ahly (CAF), Leon (CONCACAF). 
• Entering in the semi-final – Manchester City (UEFA), Fluminense (CONMEBOL)

It’s the only major competition that pits FIFA Club World Cup 2023 teams from the world’s major competitions against each other and captures the imagination of many a football hipster.

Styles will clash, new talents will emerge to new audiences, and funky team kits will get an airing to a massive demographic. 

When and Where it Will Take Place 

The FIFA Club World Cup schedule 2023 runs from 12 December until 22 December and will take place in Jeddah – the capital city of Saudi Arabia.

The King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium will be the venues for all the matches, each boasting impressive, state-of-the-art designs to deal with the high temperatures, averaging around 30 degrees in Jeddah through December. 

Schedule FIFA Club World Cup 2023

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail! Don’t miss a second of the Club World Cup 2023 by following the schedule! All times are listed in local time – AST (UTC+3).

First Round

• Al-Ittihad vs Auckland City: 21:00 on 12 December at the King Abdullah Sports City. 

Second Round 

• Club Leon vs Urawa Red Diamonds: 17:30 on 15 December at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium
• Al Alhy vs Al-Ittihad/Auckland City: 21:00 on 15 December at the King Abdullah Sports City.  

Semi-Finals

• Al-Ittihad/Auckland City/Al Alhy vs CONMEBOL winner: 21:00 on 18 December at the King Abdullah Sports City.  
• Club Leon/Urawa Red Diamonds vs Manchester City: 21:00 on 19 December at the King Abdullah Sports City.  

FIFA Club World Cup Final

• Winner of Semi-Final 1 vs Semi-Final 2: 21:00 on 22 December at the King Abdullah Sports City.

FIFA Club World Cup Winners

Most successful clubs