Al Ain have been placed in the opposite side of this year’s Fifa Club World Cup to defending champions Real Madrid, after the draw took place in Zurich on Tuesday.
The UAE champions, who qualify as host representatives, will meet the winner of South America’s Copa Libertadores in the semi-final should they first get past New Zealand’s Team Wellington in the play-off on December 12, and then a quarter-final against the winners of this year’s African Champions League on December 15. Both matches will be played at Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
So there you have it: Al Ain placed in opposite side of draw to #ClubWC defending champions Real Madrid. Just have to meet in final, then. pic.twitter.com/CQ0MCZHoG8
— John McAuley (@_JMcAuley) September 4, 2018
____________
Read more:
When is the 2018 Club World Cup? All you need to know about the UAE tournament
Club World Cup: 100 days before kick off, Al Ain cannot wait to compete with likes of Real Madrid
Hussein El Shahat: Strong showing at Club World Cup can cement place in Egypt squad
____________
Madrid, the reigning European champions, won the tournament in the Emirates last year and do not enter the competition until the semi-final stage.
The tournament, played in the UAE for the second successive year and fourth time overall, takes place in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain from December 12-22.
The seven-team event also features Mexico’s Guadalajara, with three clubs still to be confirmed in November.
