European football’s most successful club, Real Madrid, can add another title to their glittering trophy collection when they play in the final of maiden FIFA Intercontinental Cup in Qatar.
As the reigning champions of the UEFA Champions League, the Spanish club have gained direct qualification for the tournament’s final on December 18, which marks two years since Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Two games preceding the final – on 11 and 14 December – will pit continental champions against each other with the winner going on to face the Galaticos.
Here’s everything you need to know about FIFA’s brand new club continental club competition in Qatar:
What’s the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024?
The new FIFA Intercontinental Cup is a club competition, announced in December 2023, to be played annually between the winner of the UEFA Champions League and the winner of a series of intercontinental playoffs comprising the confederation champions of all premier club competitions.
How is the FIFA Intercontinental Cup different from the FIFA Club World Cup?
The FIFA Club World Cup, which has been held annually since 1960, has been expanded from seven continental confederation champions to 32 club teams. It will now be played every four years in June and July.
The next Club World Cup will be hosted by the United States in 2025.
Which teams are part of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup?
Real Madrid (Spain): UEFA/Europe champions
Al Ahly (Egypt): CAF/Africa champions
Pachuca (Mexico): CONCACAF/North America, Central America and the Caribbean champions
Botafogo (Brazil): CONMEBOL/South America champions
Al Ain (United Arab Emirates): AFC/Asia champions
Auckland City (New Zealand): OFC/Oceania champions
What’s the format of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup?
Four cross-continental playoffs will be contested by five teams, and the winner will play Real Madrid in the final.
What’s the full match schedule of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup?
African-Asian-Pacific playoff: Al Ain 6-2 Auckland City on September 22 at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, UAE
African-Asian-Pacific Cup: Al Ahly 3-0 Al Ain on October 29 at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt
Derby of the Americas: Botafogo vs Pachuca on December 11 at 8pm (17:00 GMT) at Stadium 974, Doha, Qatar
Challenger Cup: Derby of the Americas winner vs Al Ahly on December 14 at 8pm (17:00 GMT) at Stadium 974, Doha, Qatar
Final: Real Madrid vs Challenger Cup winner on December 18 at 8pm (17:00 GMT) at Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar
Which stadiums are hosting FIFA Intercontinental Cup matches in Qatar?
Stadium 974, Doha: Built on the shores of the Gulf with 974 containers, the venue overlooks the Doha skyline. This 40,000-seat stadium hosted seven matches during the Qatar World Cup 2022.
Lusail Stadium, Lusail: Lusail Stadium, located in Lusail City just outside the capital Doha, played host to the Qatar World Cup 2022 final, which saw Lionel Messi’s Argentina edge Kylian Mbappe’s France in a thrilling finish to the tournament. The stadium has also hosted the final of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 and can accommodate more than 89,000 fans.
Source: Aljazeera
