Fifa Club World Cup Saudi Arabia: 2023 schedule, teams and all you need to know

The seven-team tournament will take place in Saudi Arabia for the first time today

Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Champions League. Reuters

Manchester City's Norwegian striker #9 Erling Haaland poses with the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final. AFP

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola poses for a picture with the European Cup trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan celebrates with the fans after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

A supporter of Inter Milan reacts after InterMilan's defeat against Manchester City at the Piazza Castello (Castello's square) fanzone in Milan after the UEFA Champions League final. AFP

Manchester City's Norwegian striker #9 Erling Haaland, wrapped in the Norwegian flag, celebrates with the fans after winning the UEFA Champions League. AFP

Manchester City's English midfielder #10 Jack Grealish celebrates with his girlfriend and relatives after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City. AFP

Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan poses with the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City's players pose with the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City's Norwegian striker #9 Erling Haaland wavers t the fans as he celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City. AFP

Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan kisses the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan holds aloft the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City's Spanish midfielder #16 Rodri bites the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the winners' medal after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan (C) lifts the European Cup trophy as they celebrate on the podium after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City's Brazilian goalkeeper #31 Ederson kisses the European Cup trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City. AFP

UEFA President President Aleksander Ceferin (R) presents the European Cup trophy to Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan after their win in the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City's German midfielder #8 Ilkay Gundogan holds aloft the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) celebrates with Manchester City's Emirati chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak after the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City's Portuguese defender #3 Ruben Dias (C) lifts the European Cup trophy as they celebrate on the podium after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

TOPSHOT - Manchester City's English midfielder #4 Kalvin Phillips celebrates at the final whistle after they won the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, on June 10, 2023. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Inter Milan's Argentinian forward #10 Lautaro Martinez reacts to their defeat in the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

TOPSHOT - Manchester City's English midfielder #47 Phil Foden (L) and Manchester City's English defender #2 Kyle Walker celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, on June 10, 2023. Manchester City won the match 1-0. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Manchester City players celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City's English defender #2 Kyle Walker celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Ferran Soriano, Manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, and Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of Manchester City, celebrates with the UEFA Champions League trophy. Getty Images

Manchester City's English defender #5 John Stones celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates with the UEFA Champions League trophy after the team's victory during the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final match between FC Internazionale and Manchester City FC at Atatuerk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. Getty Images

Sergio Gomez of Manchester City celebrates with the UEFA Champions League trophy after the team's victory in the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final match between FC Internazionale and Manchester City FC at Atatuerk Olympic Stadium. Getty Images

Manchester City player Kevin de Bruyne, his wife Michele de Bruyne and two of their children pose with the trophy after the team won the UEFA Champions League Final soccer match between Manchester City and Inter Milan. EPA

Ilkay Guendogan of Manchester City lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy after the team's victory during the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final match between FC Internazionale and Manchester City FC at Atatuerk Olympic Stadium. Getty Images

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola kisses the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Manchester City and Inter Milan. AP

Aymeric Laporte of Manchester City celebrates with the UEFA Champions League trophy. Getty Images

Manchester City's English defender #2 Kyle Walker slides as he celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Manchester City at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. AFP

Manchester City's Emirati chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak poses with the European Cup trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final. AFP

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne is greeted by fans as he leaves the pitch after the Champions League final soccer match where Manchester City beat Inter Milan 1-0 at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. AP

Manchester City players and staff celebrate with the Champions League trophy after their win over Inter Milan in the final on Saturday. Getty

Rodri of Manchester City celebrates after scoring what turned out to be the match-winning goal in the Champions League final against Inter Milan at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on Saturday, June 10, 2023. Getty

Inter Milan players look dejected after defeat in the Champions League final. Getty

Manchester City's Rodri scores the opening goal past Inter Milan's Andre Onana in Istanbul. Reuters

Rodri after scoring the opening goal for Manchester City. Getty

Manchester City's Erling Haaland speaks to manager Pep Guardiola in Istanbul. Getty

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland watches as Inter Milan's Francesco Acerbi heads the ball clear. AFP

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne receives treatment during the match. AFP

Kevin De Bruyne leaves the pitch after being substituted due to injury. AFP

Kevin De Bruyne is consoled by Erling Haaland. Getty

Jack Grealish of Manchester City and Denzel Dumfries of Inter fight for the ball. EPA

Inter Milan's Federico Dimarco vies for the ball with Manchester City's Rodri. AP

The Fifa Club World Cup breaks new ground when it takes place for the first time in Saudi Arabia on December 12. In another first, European champions Manchester City debut at the tournament, and will feature alongside the likes of hosts Al Ittihad, Egypt’s Al Ahly and South American champions Fluminense. The Brazilian side were confirmed last month as the final team to seal their spot in Jeddah.

What is it?

The Fifa Club World Cup is a seven-team tournament bringing together the champions of the six continental confederations and the host nation’s most recent league winners. The 2023 edition will see history made with the competition debuting in the kingdom – with host city Jeddah providing the setting. The Club World Cup has been held in the Gulf seven times previously: five times in the UAE and twice in Qatar.

However, this year's tournament represents the last time it will be played in its current format; the next edition, in 2025, will be expanded to 32 teams. The United States will host.

When is it?

The 2023 tournament runs December 12-22, with both the final and the third-place play-off taking place on December 22.

Where is it?

Matches will be played at King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium.

Who is playing? *Club World Cup participation in brackets

Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) – 2022/23 Saudi Pro League winners (2nd)

Manchester City (England) – 2022/23 Uefa Champions League winners (1st)

Fluminense (Brazil) – 2023 Copa Libertadores winners (1st)

Al Ahly (Egypt) – 2022/23 Caf Champions League winners (9th)

Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) – 2022 Asian Champions League winners (3rd)

Club Leon (Mexico) – 2023 Concacaf Champions League winners (1st)

Auckland City (New Zealand) – 2023 OFC Champions League nominees (11th)

Fixtures (all times Saudi local time)

First round:

December 12 – Al Ittihad v Auckland City, King Abdullah Sports City, 9pm

Second round:

December 15 – Club Leon v Urawa Reds, Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, 5:30pm

December 16 – Al Ahly v Winners Match 1, King Abdullah Sports City, 9pm

Semi-finals:

December 18 – Fluminense v Winners Match 2, King Abdullah Sports City, 9pm

December 19 – Manchester City v Winners Match 3, King Abdullah Sports City, 9pm

Third place play-off:

December 22 – Losers Match 4 v Losers Match 5, Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, 5:30pm

Final:

December 22 – Winners Match 4 v Winners Match 5, King Abdullah Sports City, 9pm

Past winners

Real Madrid hold the record for most Club World Cup titles, with five. The Spanish giants won the third and fourth of those crowns in Abu Dhabi, in 2017 and 2018. Long-time rivals Barcelona, meanwhile, sit second in the overall standings, with three titles. Like Madrid, they have tasted success in Abu Dhabi before, in 2009.

Corinthians and Bayern Munich are the only other clubs with multiple wins (2), while Liverpool, AC Milan, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Chelsea are among the teams who have captured the trophy once. The latter two also achieved the feat in the UAE capital, in 2010 and 2021, respectively.

Tickets

Tickets for the 2023 Club World Cup start at SAR 40, and can be found at https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/mens/fifa-club-world-cup/saudi-arabia-2023/tickets