2023 FIFA Club World Cup explained

Tourney Name:FIFA Club World Cup
Year:2023
Other Titles:FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 presented by Visit Saudi
كأس العالم للأندية لكرة القدم
السعودية 2023
Country:Saudi Arabia
Dates:12–22 December
Num Teams:7
Confederations:6
Venues:2
Cities:1
Champion Other: Manchester City
Count:1
Second Other: Fluminense
Third Other: Al Ahly
Fourth Other: Urawa Red Diamonds
Matches:7
Goals:23
Player:Rodri (Manchester City)
Prevseason:2022
Nextseason:2024 Intercontinental Cup
2025 Club World Cup

The 2023 FIFA Club World Cup (officially known as the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 presented by Visit Saudi for sponsorship reasons) was the 20th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, a FIFA-organised international club football tournament between the winners of the six continental confederations, as well as the host nation's league champions. The tournament was played in Saudi Arabia from 12 to 22 December 2023.[1] It was the last seven-team Club World Cup before the tournament is expanded to 32 teams in 2025.[2]

Real Madrid were the defending champions, but were not able to defend their title after being eliminated in the semi-finals of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League by eventual winners Manchester City.[3] The English team won the edition by beating the Brazilian team Fluminense 4–0 in the final, claiming its first title.

Host appointment

Although an expanded, quadrennial Club World Cup is planned for 2025,[4] FIFA confirmed on 13 February 2023 that a 2023 tournament would be held using the previous seven-team format.[5] Earlier that month, UOL Esporte reported that Saudi Arabia were interested in hosting the 2023 and 2024 Club World Cup tournaments.[6] On 14 February, the FIFA Council confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2023 tournament.[7]

Qualified teams

TeamConfederationQualificationQualified dateParticipation
Entering in the semi-finals
FluminenseCONMEBOLWinners of the 2023 Copa Libertadores4 November 20231st
Manchester CityUEFAWinners of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League10 June 20231st
Entering in the second round
Urawa Red DiamondsAFCWinners of the 2022 AFC Champions League26 February 20233rd
Al AhlyCAFWinners of the 2022–23 CAF Champions League11 June 20239th
LeónCONCACAFWinners of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League4 June 20231st
Entering in the first round
Auckland CityOFCWinners of the 2023 OFC Champions League27 May 202311th
Al-IttihadAFC (host)Winners of the 2022–23 Saudi Pro League27 May 20232nd
Notes

Venues

On 26 June 2023, FIFA and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) confirmed that all matches in the tournament would be played in the city of Jeddah in two stadiums.[8]

Jeddah
King Abdullah Sports City
Stadium
Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal
Stadium
Capacity: 62,345Capacity: 27,000

Match officials

On 3 November 2023, FIFA announced that five referees, ten assistant referees and eight video assistant referees were appointed for the tournament.[9] [10]

ConfederationRefereesAssistant refereesVideo assistant referees
AFCMohammed Al Hoish (Saudi Arabia)Khamis Al-Marri (Qatar)
CAFJean-Jacques Ndala (DR Congo)Adil Zourak (Morocco)
CONCACAFTori Penso (United States)Tatiana Guzmán (Nicaragua)
CONMEBOLJesús Valenzuela (Venezuela)
UEFASzymon Marciniak (Poland)

One support referee was also named for the tournament.

Squads

See main article: 2023 FIFA Club World Cup squads.

Each team had to name a 23-man squad (three of whom had to be goalkeepers). Injury replacements were allowed until 24 hours before the team's first match.[11]

Matches

If a match was tied after normal playing time:[11]

All times are local, AST (UTC+3).[12]

Second round

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Semi-finals

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Final

See main article: 2023 FIFA Club World Cup final.

Goalscorers

RankPlayerTeamGoals
1 Julián Álvarez Manchester City2
Karim Benzema Al-Ittihad
Ali Maâloul Al Ahly
4 Jhon Arias Fluminense1
Emam Ashour Al Ahly
Bernardo Silva Manchester City
Hussein El Shahat Al Ahly
Phil Foden Manchester City
Yasser Ibrahim Al Ahly
José Kanté Urawa Red Diamonds
N'Golo Kanté Al-Ittihad
John Kennedy Fluminense
Mateo Kovačić Manchester City
Romarinho Al-Ittihad
Alex Schalk Urawa Red Diamonds
Alexander Scholz Urawa Red Diamonds
Percy Tau Al Ahly

1 own goal

Awards

See also: FIFA Club World Cup awards. The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament. Rodri of Manchester City won the Golden Ball award.[13]

Golden BallSilver BallBronze Ball
Rodri
(Manchester City)
Kyle Walker
(Manchester City)
Jhon Arias
(Fluminense)
FIFA Fair Play Award
Al-Ittihad
FIFA also named a man of the match for the best player in each game at the tournament.
Man of the Match
MatchMan of the matchClubOpponent
1 N'Golo Kanté Al-Ittihad Auckland City[14]
2 Marwan Attia Al Ahly Al-Ittihad[15]
3 Yoshio Koizumi Urawa Red Diamonds León[16]
4 André Fluminense Al Ahly[17]
5 Rodri Manchester City[18]
6 Emam Ashour Al Ahly[19]
7 Julián Álvarez Manchester City Fluminense[20]

Sponsorship

Presenting Partner

FIFA Partners

Tournament Supporters

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Saudi Arabia to host Club World Cup in December . . 14 February 2023 . 16 February 2023.
  2. Web site: FIFA Council approves international match calendars . . 14 March 2023 . 14 March 2023.
  3. Web site: Vinicius and Valverde dazzle as five-star Madrid conquer . . 11 February 2023 . 11 February 2023.
  4. Web site: FIFA World Cup 2022 praised for its "unique cohesive power" . . 16 December 2022 . 16 December 2022 . 16 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221216112022/https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/organisation/fifa-council/media-releases/fifa-world-cup-2022-tm-praised-for-its-unique-cohesive-power . live.
  5. Web site: Agenda of meeting no. 22 of the FIFA Council . . 13 February 2023 . 13 February 2023.
  6. News: Rizzo . Marcel . Mundial de Clubes: Arábia Saudita cotada para receber edições 2023 e 2024 . Club World Cup: Saudi Arabia tipped to host 2023 and 2024 editions . . 10 February 2023 . 13 February 2023 . pt.
  7. News: FIFA Council highlights record breaking revenue in football . . 14 February 2023 . 14 February 2023.
  8. Web site: FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 host city confirmed. FIFA. 26 June 2023.
  9. Web site: Match officials appointed for FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 . . 3 November 2023 . 3 November 2023 .
  10. Web site: FIFA Club World Cup 2023 – List of Appointed FIFA Match Officials . . 3 November 2023 . 3 November 2023 .
  11. Web site: Regulations for the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 . . June 2023 . 1 November 2023 .
  12. Web site: Match Schedule: FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 . . 6 November 2023 . 7 November 2023 .
  13. Web site: 22 December 2023 . Rodri wins adidas Golden Ball as City reign . 22 December 2023 . FIFA.
  14. Web site: Stylish Ittihad set up Ahly showdown . . 12 December 2023 . 12 December 2023 .
  15. Web site: Al Ahly stun Al Ittihad to set up Flu showdown . . 15 December 2023 . 15 December 2023 .
  16. Web site: Schalk strikes as Reds set up City semi . . 15 December 2023 . 15 December 2023 .
  17. Web site: Fluminense make final after spirited Al Ahly win . . 18 December 2023 . 18 December 2023 .
  18. Web site: City cruise to set up Fluminense final . . 19 December 2023 . 19 December 2023 .
  19. Web site: Al Ahly claim bronze after six-goal thriller . . 22 December 2023 . 22 December 2023 .
  20. Web site: Clinical City clinch maiden Club World Cup title . . 22 December 2023 . 22 December 2023 .