Palmeiras' extra-time victory in the Copa Libertadores final on Saturday means we now know the full seven-team lineup for next year’s Fifa Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.
The tournament, taking place in the capital for the fifth time, brings together the champions of the six continental confederations and the host nation’s most recent league winners.
The postponed 2021 edition will be held from February 3-12. The tournament was originally to take place in Japan next month, but the Japan Football Association withdrew in September citing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
The UAE has previously hosted the Club World Cup in 2009, 2010, 2017 and 2018. Three Arab teams will take part in the upcoming tournament: host representatives Al Jazira, Hilal and Egypt’s Al Ahly. The draw will be held on November 29.
Competing teams
UAE
Al Jazira – the Abu Dhabi club will contest a second Club World Cup as reigning domestic champions after they won the 2020/21 Adnoc Pro League in May to book their spot. In their only other Club World Cup appearance, in 2017, Jazira pushed Real Madrid all the way in the semi-final before goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale turned around the tie to give the tournament's eventual winners a 2-1 win.
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Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo in action with Al Jazira’s Ali Khaseif. Matthew Childs / Reuters -
Al Jazira's Mark Boussoufa controls the ball during the Fifa Club World Cup semi-final against Real Madrid. Hassan Ammar / AP Photo -
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo goes down after sustaining an injury to his face. Matthew Childs / Reuters -
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo scores their first goal. Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters -
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts. Matthew Childs / Reuters -
Al Jazira’s Musallem Fayez in action. Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters -
Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema, right, attempts a volley. Karim Sahib / AFP -
Al Jazira's Brazilian forward Romarinho scores. Giuseppe Cacace / AFP -
Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid in action. Martin Dokoupil / EPA -
Al Jazira’s Romarinho celebrates scoring. Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters -
Real Madrid’s Casemiro had a first-half goal ruled out for offside. Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters -
Real Madrid’s Casemiro argues with referee Sandro Ricci. Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters -
Real Madrid’s Casemiro scores a goal that is disallowed. Matthew Childs / Reuters -
Referee Sandro Ricci talks with Real Madrid’s Mateo Kovacic and Isco. Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters -
Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema scores a goal that is disallowed. Matthew Childs / Reuters -
Real Madrid’s Keylor Navas makes a save. Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters -
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo shoots at goal. Matthew Childs / Reuters -
Real Madrid's Nacho, left, challenges for the ball with Al Jazira's Ali Mabkhout. Hassan Ammar / AP Photo -
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, left, challenges for the ball with Al Jazira's Eissa Mohamed. Hassan Ammar / AP Photo -
Ali Mabkhout of Al Jazira in action. Francois Nel/Getty Images -
Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane and Casemiro in action. Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters -
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo in action with Al Jazira’s Mohammed Ali Ayed. Matthew Childs / Reuters -
Real Madrid’s Luka Modric in action with Al Jazira’s Salem Rashid. Matthew Childs / Reuters
Uefa
Chelsea – the in-form English side will represent Europe in the tournament following their 1-0 victory against compatriots Manchester City in the Uefa Champions League final in May. Chelsea have once before competed in the Club World Cup, in 2012, where they were beaten 1-0 in the final in Japan by Brazil’s Corinthians. Thomas Tuchel’s team currently sit top of both the Premier League and their Champions League group.
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Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich together after winning the Uefa Champions League. EPA -
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich poses with club captain Cesar Azpilicueta and the Ueefa Champions League trophy following Chelsea's win over Manchester City in the final. PA -
Chelsea defender Thiago Silva celebrates with owner Roman Abramovich after winning the Champions League. Reuters -
Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga celebrates with owner Roman Abramovich after winning the Champions League. Reuters -
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich with Thiago Silva after winning the Uefa Champions League. Getty Images -
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel celebrates with owner Roman Abramovich after winning the Champions League. Reuters -
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich celebrates on the pitch after the Uefa Champions League final. PA -
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich on the pitch following Chelsea's victory in the Champions League final. PA -
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich on the pitch following Chelsea's victory in the Champions League final. PA -
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich celebrates on the pitch after the Champions League final. PA
AFC
Al Hilal – Saudi Arabia’s lead club were the latest side to confirm their place at the Club World Cup when they triumphed on Tuesday against South Korea’s Pohang Steelers in the Asian Champions League. The 2-0 win in Riyadh gave Hilal a record fourth Asian crown, and a second in the past three years. The capital side have one appearance to date in the Club World Cup, eventually losing 3-1 in the 2019 semi-final to Brazil’s Flamengo.
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Al Hilal's Nasser Al Dawsari celebrates with Bafetimbi Gomis after scoring in the 2-0 win against Pohang Steelers in the 2021 Asian Champions League final at King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh. Reuters -
Al Hilal's Nasser Al Dawsari celebrates scoring in their 2-0 win against Pohang Steelers in the 2021 Asian Champions League final at King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh on Tuesday, November 23. Reuters -
Hilal's Salem Al Dawsari on the attack. AFP -
Emirati referee Mohammed Abdulla Hassan shows a yellow card to Pohang defender Alex Grant. AFP -
Hilal forward Moussa Marega celebrates scoring. AFP -
Al Hilal's Matheus Pereira under pressure from Sang-Woo Kang of Pohang Steelers. AFP -
Hilal fans during the game in Riyadh. AFP -
Pohang midfielder Lee Soo-bin and Hilal attacker Moussa Maregabattle for possession. AFP -
Al Hilal manager Leonardo Jardim. Reuters -
Hilal fans during the game in Riyadh. AFP -
Hilal fans during the game in Riyadh. AFP -
Hilal fans before the game in Riyadh. AFP
Concacaf
Monterrey – a 1-0 victory against fellow Mexicans America in last month’s Concacaf Champions League final was enough to seal the Liga MX side a fifth qualification for the Club World Cup. Monterrey’s other appearances came in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2019, with their best finish being third place on their second attempt and again last time out. Two years ago, they defeated Hilal on penalties in Doha to take bronze.
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Monterrey players celebrate after beating Al Sadd. EPA -
Leonel Vangioni celebrates after scoring for Monterrey. EPA -
Fans of Monterrey show their support. Getty -
Monterrey players celebrate after the match. Reuters -
Al Sadd's Gabi looks dejected. Reuters -
Rogelio Funes (R) of Monterrey celebrates with teammates after scoring the second goa. EPA -
Monterrey's head coach Antonio Mohamed during the match. EPA -
Monterrey players celebrate after winning. EPA -
Al Sadd players at the final whistle. EPA
CAF
Al Ahly – the hugely decorated Egyptian club will make their seventh appearance in the Club World Cup by dint of a 3-0 victory in July against South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs in the African Champions League final. It was the defending champions’ record-extending 10th African crown. Having first participated in the Club World Cup in 2005, Ahly’s best performances were third in 2006 and again last year, with the latter a win on penalties against Brazil’s Palmeiras.
OFC
Auckland City – the New Zealanders will take part in a record-extending 10th Club World Cup having been nominated by the Oceania Football Confederation following the cancellation of the OFC Champions League amid the Covid-19 pandemic. After debuting in 2006 and playing again in 2009, Auckland contested seven successive Club World Cups from 2011-2017. Their best result was in 2014, when they took bronze in Morocco. This will be their third appearance in Abu Dhabi.
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Felipe Melo of Palmeiras lifts the Copa Libertadores after defeating Flamengo 2-1 at Centenario Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Montevideo, Uruguay. Getty Images -
Palmeiras' Breno Henrique celebrates winning the Copa Libertadores with the trophy. Reuters -
Palmeiras' Danilo and teammates celebrate. Reuters -
Fans of Palmeiras react after winning the Copa Libertadore. AFP -
Fans of Palmeiras react after winning the Copa Libertadores. AFP -
Fans of Flamengo react after losing the Copa Libertadores final. AFP -
Palmeiras' Breno Henrique and teammates celebrate. Reuters -
Deyverson of Palmeiras and a member of the coaching staff celebrate after the final. Getty Images -
Palmeiras' Felipe Melo celebrates winning the Copa Libertadores with teammates. Reuters -
Palmeiras' Luiz Adriano celebrates with teammates. Reuters -
Palmeiras' Luiz Adriano, centre, celebrates winning the Copa Libertadores with teammates. Reuters -
Palmeiras' Gabriel Menino celebrates. Reuters -
Palmeiras' Gustavo Scarpa. Reuters -
Palmeiras' Victor Luis kisses the Copa Libertadores trophy. Reuters -
President of Palmeiras Maurício Galiotte. Reuters -
Players of Palmeiras celebrate their 2-1 extra-time win over Flamengo at Centenario Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Montevideo, Uruguay. Getty Images -
President of Palmeiras Maurício Galiotte celebrates after the final. Reuters -
Felipe Melo of Palmeiras lifts the Champions Trophy. Getty Images -
Palmeiras' Raphael Veiga celebrates after scoring against Flamengo. AFP -
Felipe Melo of Palmeiras celebrates after defeating Flamengo 2-1in in the final. Getty Images -
Weverton uses his mobile phone after the final. Getty Images -
Patrick de Paula of Palmeiras. Getty Images -
Palmeiras' Patrick de Paula and Danilo celebrate winning the Copa Libertadores. Getty Images -
Palmeiras' Danilo celebrates winning the Copa Libertadores with the trophy. Reuters -
Palmeiras' Patrick de Paula and Gustavo Scarpa celebrate in front of fans. Reuters -
Fans of Flamengo react after losing the Copa Libertadores final. AFP -
Palmeiras fans celebrate winning the Copa Libertadores. Reuters -
Gustavo Gomez of Palmeiras celebrates. Getty Images -
Palmeiras' Felipe Melo celebrates with his teammate Danilo Barbosa. EPA
Conmebol
Palmeiras – Deyverson scored an extra-time winner as reigning champions Palmeiras retained the Copa Libertadores on Saturday with a 2-1 victory over Flamengo in an all-Brazilian final in Montevideo. Palmeiras became the seventh and final team to book their place in Abu Dhabi after Andreas Pereira committed a horrible mistake in the 95th minute to allow Deyverson to run through and earn Palmeiras the biggest club title in South American football for the second year in a row, and third time overall. It is the Brazilian side's second appearance at the Club World Cup after their fourth-place finish in Qatar in 2020.
Format
Al Jazira and Auckland City face one another in the first round in Abu Dhabi, with the winner then joining Al Hilal, Al Ahly and Monterrey in the next stage. Chelsea and either Palmeiras or Flamengo enter at the semi-final mark.
