Real Madrid will be looking to back up their Champions League success with victory in the Club World Cup in February.
The champions of their respective continents will head to Morocco, where the 11-day tournament will take place, beginning on February 1. The European champions have won every edition of the tournament since 2009 with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Liverpool among the victors.
Chelsea claimed the title last year, seeing off Palmeiras 2-1 in the final. Corinthians were the last team outside of Europe to claim the trophy, beating the Blues back in 2012. The tournament was first held in 2000 and has continued to be held across Japan, the Middle East and Africa.
Normally the competition would’ve taken place in December, but this year’s competition had to be delayed due to the first ever winter World Cup, which has caused scheduling problems around the globe.
Which teams are involved?
Real Madrid are the major name who will head to north Africa. Los Blancos won the Champions League by seeing off Liverpool in the final in Paris back in May. Their biggest threat is likely to come from Brazilian outfit Flamengo, who won the Copa Libertadores against Athletico Paranaense.
Auckland City and Al Ahly will begin the tournament. Auckland won the OFC Champions League whilst the Egyptian-outfit finished second in the CAF Champions League. America, Morocco and Saudi Arabia will also be represented at the tournament. The Seattle Sounders, Al Hilal and Wydad, who will enjoy home advantage, are among the outsiders competing for the trophy.
What are the fixtures?
European and South American teams do not enter the competition until the third round, which is effectively the semi-final. The first game of the competition is between Auckland and Al Ahly, with the winner taking on the Seattle Sounders.
(
AFP via Getty Images)
Whoever wins that will then go on to face Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid. The other second round game will see Wydad and Al Hilal go head-to-head with the winner facing Flamengo. The winners will then advance to the final.
The first round will take place on February 1. Following that the two second round games occur on February 4. Flamengo’s third round game is on February 7 with Madrid’s 24 hours later before the final on February 11.
Madrid’s mission
Los Blancos are the tournament’s most successful side ever – winning it on four occasions. They backed up Champions League successes in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018 by claiming the Club World Cup.
Carlo Ancelotti was at the helm for their 2014 victory and is aiming to become the most successful manager ever in the competition. He also won it with AC Milan back in 2007 meaning he, Pep Guardiola and Zinedine Zidane are the only men to win it twice.
