(PA)
Manchester City will discover who they will be facing in the Club World Cup when the draw for Fifa’s tournament of champions takes place this afternoon.
Pep Guardiola’s men have never featured in the competition before but qualified when they defeated Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul back in June. By winning the trophy and secuing their title as champions of Europe, City have automatically progressed to the semi-finals of the Club World Cup alongside the eventual winners of the Copa Libertadores.
City will be competing against the winners of the different federations’ Champions Leagues as well as the champions of the host nation Saudi Arabia which is Al-Ittihad. While it is not seen as a big deal in Europe, the Club World Cup is highly respected among clubs from other continents and Guardiola will want to add the trophy to the Blues’ already impressive haul.
Follow along for all the updates from the Club World Cup draw:
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Club World Cup draw
Here’s the draw in full including dates for each game:
Match 1: Al Ittihad vs Auckland City (12 December)
Match 2: Al Ahly vs winner of Match 1 (15 December)
Match 3: Leon vs Urawa Red Diamonds (15 December)
Match 4: Conmebol representatives vs Match 2 winners (18 December)
Match 5: Match 3 winners vs Manchester City (19 December)
Match 4 losers vs Match 5 losers (22 December)
Match 4 winners vs Match 5 winners (22 December)
Mike Jones5 September 2023 12:38
Club World Cup draw
For the semi-final draw, the winners of Match 2 (Al Ahly or the winner of Al Ittihad vs Auckland City) will take on the Conmebol representative.
Manchester City, meanwhile, will play either Leon or Urawa Red Diamonds.
Mike Jones5 September 2023 12:33
Club World Cup draw
Al Ittihad vs Auckland City
Al Ahly vs winner of Al Ittihad vs Auckland City
Leon vs Urawa Red Diamonds
Mike Jones5 September 2023 12:32
Club World Cup draw
Urawa Red Diamonds are pulled out next and go into Match 3 as team D. They’ll take on Leon.
That means the winners of Al Ittihad vs Auckland City will face Al Ahly in Match 2.
Mike Jones5 September 2023 12:31
Club World Cup draw
Mexico’s Leon are drawn out next and they’re assigned team C meaning they will play in Match 3 or the second match of the second round.
Mike Jones5 September 2023 12:30
Club World Cup draw
Al Ahly are the first team out of the pot to make their ninth appearance in the tournament. They are team A and will play in the first match of the second round.
Mike Jones5 September 2023 12:29
Club World Cup draw
The second round fixtures are being draw from two pots. Four teams are being put in pot one, Al Ahly, Leon, Urawa Red Diamonds and the winners of the first round fixture between Al Ittihad and Auckland City.
In the second pot are letters A-D to determine which team will play where.
Mike Jones5 September 2023 12:27
Club World Cup draw
Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure is in the house and will be helping to draw the balls to see who will play who.
Conmebol’s Copa Libertadores are still unknown as the final of that tournament is scheduled to take place on 4 November.
The winners will qualify for the Club World Cup’s semi-final stage.
Mike Jones5 September 2023 12:24
Club World Cup draw
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has now taken to the stage to give a speech of his own before this draw of just seven teams is decided.
Mike Jones5 September 2023 12:20
Club World Cup schedule
First round: Al Ittihad FC v Auckland City FC (12 December)
Second round: Match 2 -Team A vs Team B (15 December)
Match 3 – Team C vs Team D (15 December)
Semi-finals: Conmebol representative vs M2 or M3 winner (18 December)
M2 or M3 winner vs Manchester City FC (19 December)
Final: Semi-final 1 winner vs Semi-final 2 winner (22 December)
Mike Jones5 September 2023 12:16