Arabs at the Club World Cup…highlights and scenarios



And represents Al-Ahli Al-Masri, Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia, Esperance from Tunisia, Al-Ain from the Emirates and Vidad Casablanca from Morocco, Arab football in the first edition of the tournament with its new system, which includes 32 teams and takes place every 4 years, instead of is held annually with the participation of only 7 clubs.

According to the draw held on Thursday in the American city of Miami, Al-Ahly, which participates in the competition after the coronation In the African Champions League 4 times during the past five editions of the continental championship, in a balanced first group that included Brazil’s Palmeiras, who participate after winning the Copa Libertadores in 2021, Portugal’s Porto, who previously won the Champions League in 1987 and 2004, and American Inter Miami , who is performing at the World Cup as a representative of the host country.

The same applies to Tarajithe runners-up of the last edition of the African Champions League, who were drawn in a relatively balanced fourth group, in the company of Flamengo of Brazil, the champions of the 2021 Copa Libertadores. Chelsea England, who won the Champions League Cup in the same year, and Mexico’s Olimpico Leon, who won the Confederations Cup of North, Central America and the Caribbean (Concacaf) in 2023.

The same is true for In half a monthholder of the AFC Champions League title in the 2021 edition, despite the presence of the Blue Team in Group H alongside… Real Madrid The Spaniard holds the record for the number of victories in the Champions League (15 times), but the entry into the group of Austrian Salzburg and Mexican Pachuca greatly reduced the intensity of the competition.

On the contrary, there is Eyewinner of the last edition of the AFC Champions League, and Widad, who won the African Champions League in 2022, are in an iron seventh group alongside two elite clubs in Europe, which is Manchester City of England, the winner of the European Champions League in 2023 and the winner of the last edition of the Club World Championship in the old fashion system last year, and Italian Juventus, who previously won the Champions League in 1985 and 1996.

Fixtures for the five Arab clubs in the tournament

Al Ahly, who won the bronze medal 4 times under the old system of the World Club Championship, will play the opening match of the competition against Inter Miami, led by the Argentine magician. Lionel Messi Next June 15, before facing Palmeiras and Porto in the second and third rounds.

This will be the third clash between Al-Ahli and Palmeiras at the Club World Cup, as Club of the Century in Africa previously defeated the ancient Brazilian team on penalties in the match to decide the third-placed and bronze medal in the Qatar 2020 Edition of the competition, before the Samba Boys avenged that defeat and defeated the team Al-Ahmara 2-0 in the semi-finals of the next edition in 2021 in the Emirates.

On the other hand, Al-Ahli, who hold the record as the most Arab and African club to participate in the Club World Cup under the old system (9 times), have never played a single official match against the Portuguese team Porto, who previously won. the Champions League title in 1987 and 2004, as well as Inter Miami participating in the World Cup as a representative of the host country.

The winner and runner-up from each of the eight first-round groups qualify for the round of 16 tournament, which is held on a knockout round system until the final match of the competition to be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey next July 13.

If Al-Ahli advances to the round of 16 of the tournament as the leader of their group, they will meet the second-placed team in the second group, in which they are Paris Saint Germain France, Atletico Madrid of Spain, Botafogo of Brazil and Seattle Sounders of America, if they come through as runners-up in their group, will play the winner of Group Two.

As for Esperance, he begins his campaign in Group D against Flamengo in the first round, then plays Lyon and Chelsea in the second and third rounds respectively, noting that he has never played any of the three teams in any official game before .

If, as the leader of its group, it makes it to the round of 16, Esperance, which participated three times in the old system of the Club World Championship, will play with the second-placed team in the third group, which includes the German Bayern Munich. , Auckland City from New Zealand, Boca Juniors from Argentina and Benfica from Portugal, however, if they finish second, they will play the leaders.

It opens in the seventh group Vidad His journey with Manchester Cityholder of the title of the English Premier League in the last four seasons, in the first round, in which there is another confrontation between Al Ain and Juventus.

In the second round, Wydad play Juventus, while Al Ain meets Manchester City, and then in the final round, the all-Arab clash between the teams of Morocco and the Emirates, which is the 12th all-Arab clash in the history of the tournament, and the first Arab summit under the new system World Club Championship.

Al Ain has previously fought an Arab confrontation in… World Club Championship Against Esperance in the second round of the 2018 competition hosted by the Emirates, where the hosts won 3-0 before progressing to the final, which they lost to Real Madrid.

As for Widad, he previously played one Arab match at the Club World Cup against Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in the second round of the competition held in Morocco in 2022, where he drew 1-1 in regular time against the Saudi Arabian national team. won 5-3 on penalties.

Al Ain, who are preparing for their second appearance at the Club World Cup, have never officially played any of their three group rivals before, and the same goes for Wajdad, who played in the 2017 and 2022 Club World Cups.

If Al Ain or Widad top the group, one of them will meet the Group of Eight runners-up, who could become Al Hilal, so the tournament will witness another Arab clash, but if one of the two teams is in second place, they will play with the Group of Eight leader.

Al Hilal begin their journey in Group H with a tough clash with Real Madrid in the first round, as this will be the second clash between the two teams at the Club World Cup, having previously met in the final match of the 2022 edition of the competition, which witnessed how the royal team won the title after a 5-3 victory over his Saudi counterpart.

Al Hilal, who took part in the 2019, 2021 and 2022 Club World Cups, will play Salzburg in the second round and close their matches in the first round against Pachuca, noting that they have never played against either of them at an official level before .





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