Fifa Club World Cup draw: Al Jazira could face Real Madrid in semi-finals in Abu Dhabi

From left to right, retired Colombian footballer Ivan Cordoba, Head of Fifa tournaments Jaime Yarza watch as UAE footballer Abdulrahim Jumaa shows a group position in the official draw of the Fifa Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi. All photos Giuseppe Cacace / AFP Photo

Al Jazira could face Real Madrid in the Fifa Club World Cup this December after they were placed in the European champions’ side of the draw at the draw ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Four of the seven teams have been confirmed for the December 6-16 event: Real Madrid (European champions), Mexico’s FC Pachuca (Concacaf champions), New Zealand’s Auckland City (Oceania champions) and Al Jazira (host representatives).

The three remaining teams, the champions from South America, Africa and Asia, will be decided next month. Madrid are the defending champions having last year won the tournament for the second time.

The official match ball to be used in the Club World Cup 2017.

Mohammed Khalfan Al-Romaithi, chairman of the higher local Organising Commitee, gives a speech during the official draw of the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017 football tournament in Abu Dhabi on October 9, 2017. The tournament will be held in Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain from December 6 to 16. / AFP PHOTO / GIUSEPPE CACACE

The only match already confirmed features UAE champions Jazira against Auckland City at Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on December 6.

From left to right, Abdulrahim Jumaa, Ivan Cordoba, Mikael Silvestre and Eric Abidal pose for a photo with Dhabi the tournament mascot.

Al Jazira could face Real Madrid in the Fifa Club World Cup this December after they were placed in the European champions’ side of the draw at the draw ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

The UAE champions, who qualify as host representatives, must first get past New Zealand’s Auckland City in the play-off on December 6 and then a quarter-final against the winners of this year’s Asian Champions League on December 9.

Should Jazira do so, they will meet Madrid in the last four at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City on December 13. Madrid, the defending Club World Cup champions, do not enter the competition until the semi-final stage.

The tournament, played in the UAE for the first time since 2010, takes place in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain from December 6-16.

The seven-team event also features Mexico’s FC Pachuca, with three clubs still to be confirmed.

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More on Fifa Club World Cup:

• All you need to know ahead of the draw
• Call for fans to volunteer for Fifa Club World Cup
• Fernando Morientes: Al Jazira players will have chance to attract European interest

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