Fifa praises Abu Dhabi for hosting successful Club World Cup

UAE capital staged the seven-team event earlier this month for the fifth time, with European champions beating South America representatives Palmeiras in the final

Chelsea celebrate winning the Fifa Club World Cup final after defeating Palmeiras at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, February 12, 2022. All images Chris Whiteoak / The National

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta celebrates winning the Fifa Club World Cup final in Abu Dhabi.

Kai Havertz scores the winner for Chelsea against Palmeiras in the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

Chelsea celebrate after Romelu Lukaku scored against Palmeiras in the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Romelu Lukaku scored Chelsea's opener against Palmeiras in the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Raphael Veiga of Palmeiras scores from the penalty spot.

Former Chelsea captain John Terry during the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel speaks with Mateo Kovacic.

Palmeiras fans set off a flare during the final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

Chelsea fans during the final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Palmeiras fans at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

Fifa has praised Abu Dhabi’s hosting of the rescheduled 2021 Fifa Club World Cup and said that the proposed expansion of future editions is crucial in restoring the tournament's competitive balance.

Abu Dhabi staged the seven-team event earlier this month after original hosts Japan withdrew, with Chelsea crowned champions on February 12 following their extra-time victory against Brazil’s Palmeiras at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium.

The third-placed play-off was contested earlier in the evening at Al Nahyan Stadium, where Egypt’s Al Ahly defeated Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal 4-0 to seal bronze. UAE champions Al Jazira, Tahiti's AS Pirae and Mexico's Monterrey comprised the competition's other three teams.

This year marked the fifth time the Club World Cup has been held in the capital, after successful editions in 2009, 2010, 2017 and 2018. Organisers said the tournament was attended by more than 135,000 spectators across its eight matches.

Speaking last week during a visit to the Football Association, Fifa general secretary Fatma Samoura said: “I heard it’s only in Abu Dhabi where you can have two finals staged in the one evening and this is definitely true.

“Abu Dhabi hosted this Fifa Club World Cup for a fifth time, but I was here during the fourth edition and I could see the investment in terms of innovation, but also in terms of infrastructure that the authorities in the country have decided to put into football.

“That means that they not only understand the power of football to bring joy and smile in the faces of young children and also grown-ups, but also the importance it plays in society.

"[The tournament's final day] was definitely a good demonstration for Abu Dhabi and for the Emirates on how all together we fought that scare and that fear that the Covid pandemic has imposed on us over the past 18 months.”

Chelsea vs Palmeiras ratings

CHELSEA PLAYER RATINGS: Edouard Mendy – 6. Thomas Tuchel returned to the sideline after Covid, and immediately Mendy was restored between the posts. No chance with the penalty, but added to Chelsea’s nerves after it went in with errant distribution. EPA

Cesar Azpilicueta – 6. So defensive is the Palmeiras method, Chelsea’s right wing back found himself in the forward line an unusual amount of times. Played the volley onto Luan’s arm which was decisive. EPA

Andreas Christensen – 7. Had his work cut out dealing with Dudu, but Palmeiras’ star forward was mostly kept at arm’s length. Went off before the start of extra time. Reuters

Thiago Silva – 7. Palmeiras are happy without the ball, and defending deep, which meant Silva spent much of the time picking out quarter-back style passes, plus some long shots. Mindless handball for the penalty. AFP

Antonio Rudiger – 9.5. Might have done better at a couple of attacking corners, but his defensive work was typically impeccable. Head and shoulders above the rest, the deserving player of the match. Reuters

Callum Hudson-Odoi – 6. Bright early on, but faded and was cancelled out by Rony and Rocha. Wasteful too often, but picked out Lukaku expertly for the opening goal of the night. AFP

N'Golo Kante – 7. Tried to get his side moving, but Lukaku and Havertz were not often the most willing runners ahead of him. Had his bottomless fuel supplies tested by the vigour of the Palmeiras midfield. AP

Mateo Kovacic – 7. Brilliant last time out, but found it tougher this time when pressed by a more energetic midfield. Played the pass which freed Hudson-Odoi to cross for Lukaku’s goal. AFP

Mason Mount – 5. Met the ire of Silva and Lukaku when he opted to shoot a first-half free kick rather than cross. Looked dejected when he limped off after half an hour. AP

Kai Havertz – 8. Compared to the Al Hilal game, where he sparkled, he was relatively lacklustre, but he did the crucial part when the time came. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Romelu Lukaku – 6. Again he laboured. Again he scored. The last bit is what Chelsea paid all that money for, but they might expect a little more in the way of energy, too. AP

SUBS: Christian Pulisic – 7. On for Mount with quarter of an hour left in the first half, and added so much more dynamism than the England man managed. Missed a good chance late in normal time when he curved a shot wide. AFP

Timo Werner – 7. Lukaku’s replacement got lucky once, when he broke through despite being clearly offside. But he was perky in attack in extra time. AP

Saul Niguez – 6. On for Hudson-Odoi he was happy to battle. He picked himself straight up after appearing to head-butt Piquerez’s boot. PA

Hakim Ziyech – 5. Inauspicious start after coming on for Kovacic after 90 minutes were up. First tripped doing a trick, then tripped up an opponent trying to retrieve possession. Gave a rash of fouls thereafter, too. AFP

Malang Sarr – 6. Confident enough to lash a shot in from distance not long after being introduced, but it ended up in the crowd behind the goal. Reuters

PALMEIRAS PLAYER RATINGS: Weverton – 6. Much like his two rivals for a place in Brazil’s goal, Ederson and Alisson Becker, Palmeiras’ No 1 has an extraordinary range of passing. He was sometimes too keen to show it off when his tiring outfielders needed a rest. AP

Marcos Rocha – 8. One delicious bit of skill to dispossess Hudson-Odoi and start an attack was the one piece of showiness he permitted himself. Otherwise, he had his nose to the grindstone. Vital header prevented a late goal. AP

Gustavo Gomez – 9. It was his sizeable presence which spooked Silva into conceding the penalty. Colossal display exemplified why the Paraguayan is regarded by many as the best centre back in Brazil. AP

Luan – 5. Lukaku only got the better of him once, when he outjumped him for the goal. Extremely unlucky to give away a penalty for handball scarcely a yard away from the shooter. Red card was the final indignity. PA

Gustavo Scarpa – 7. Brought a massive roar from the Palmeiras fans with one meaty – if a little inconsequential – tackle on Lukaku. His commitment was obvious throughout. Reuters

Raphael Veiga – 7. Calmness personified from the spot for the equaliser. Cheered to the echoed when he was substituted late on. AP

Rony – 8. It said much about manager Abel Ferreira’s commitment to defence that Rony, nominally the forward, spent much of the game covering the right-back position. He did it selflessly and with passion. EPA

SUBS: Jailson – 7. Brought on straight after the concession of Lukaku’s goal – and his side promptly hit back. Later made an important contribution at a defensive corner. Reuters

Wesley – 6. Added some oomph for a tiring side, but was also booked for a reckless foul on Saul. EPA

Eduard Atuesta – 6. Introduced late on but struggled to get to the pace of the game in the time that was afforded to him. EPA

Rafael Navarro – 7. Succeeded in stretching the play when his wilting midfield needed an out ball. AP

Deyverson – NA. No chance to make an impression after coming on deep into extra time. EPA

Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s long-held ambition to increase the Club World Cup to 24 teams was to come to fruition last year – the expanded edition was slated for China last summer - however it was pushed back after both the 2020 European Championship and 2020 Copa America were delayed because of the pandemic. The past nine Club World Cups have been won by the tournament’s European representatives.

On the proposed 24-team event, Samoura said: “This is not a new idea. This has been tabled by the Fifa president since the day he was elected. He wants this Fifa Club World Cup format to be changed, and to see definitely between 24 and even more clubs playing at the highest level.

“We want a better balance between European clubs and the rest of the world, because football as we all know is the most popular sport, especially in this part of the world.

“And by knowing in advance that, no matter what, the trophy will be lifted by only one confederation in the long run could also be a source of demotivation. But by having more clubs playing at an equal level there is a possibility one day to have more people enjoying the game, because they will be supporting and coming [to matches] like we saw with the Palmeiras fans.

"And we want also that there is more hope for other confederations; that the Africans can come and think that they have a chance, that the North Americans can also come and play this competition and think they have a lot of chance.

“This is subject to discussion, like the biannual World Cup. As the president of Fifa said: Fifa is an open-door organisation. We have no taboo; all the subjects that are brought on the table by the member associations need to be given due consideration.

“We are hopeful that one day people will only look at the interests of football and the football fans and not only their own interests. And this day will happen when every single confederation in the world will be able to bring in more clubs.”

As for when the expanded Club World Cup would be launched, with 2024 mooted, Samoura said: “We are not in a hurry. There is no rush. We don't have a deadline saying that we want to impose it. Yes, there was a proposal to start to stage it in 2024, but if it is not possible in 2024, we can have it in 2025 or 2026.

“But what we want is to make sure it brings the level of traction that we would like to see in club football.”

Raphael Veiga celebrates after scoring Palmeiras' first goal in their 2-0 win against Al Ahly in the Fifa Club World Cup semi-final at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi. All images by Chris Whiteoak / The National

Raphael Veiga scores for Palmeiras against Al Ahly.

Al Ahly's Mohamed Hany is chased by Rony of Palmeiras.

Raphael Veiga celebrates after scoring for Palmeiras.

Palmeiras fans during the game in Abu Dhabi.

Raphael Veiga scores for Palmeiras.

Rony of Palmeiras under pressure from Al Ahly's Yasser Ibrahim.

Raphael Veiga celebrates scoring for Palmeiras.

Dudu celebrates scoring Palmeiras' second goal.

Dudu celebrates scoring Palmeiras' second goal.

Al Ahly manager Pitso Mosimane.

Dudu celebrates scoring Palmeiras' second goal.

Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira.

Gustavo Scarpa takes a corner for Palmeiras.

Al Ahly manager Pitso Mosimane with his Palmeiras counterpart Abel Ferreira before the game.

Al Ahly fans before the game.

Palmeiras fans before the game.

Palmeiras fans before the game.

Al Ahly fans before the game.