![Al Ittihad fans in the stands. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LGDODXYTT5N7VUQWM7NB3M73WM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3d8c12876bc116fc19b4337ef93c291929805903d841a0b030d14c0941f7857d&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema celebrates with Muhannad Al Shanqeeti after scoring their third goal against Auckland City in the Club World Cup first round at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on December 12, 2023. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N7RHVR62HTNJD4BJVG5S5PGF54.jpg?smart=true&auth=b881dc1514eaa7313328e3ab53598a1e13c8c50bc595278a2acc11cccb303851&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring their third goal with Muhannad Al Shanqeeti. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DVG5532XBLCY7PXLGQMUH73X3U.jpg?smart=true&auth=c25a8cf2b98c7b8463017cdad3476c54e27fa7730d2adb46674500c3f68dfaac&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring their third goal. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M26CJPBVDOQFSVLC3LQZND7OG4.jpg?smart=true&auth=3d5feb7f31d4bd746712d10349559c516b1105c262ccfd299f601539a911bfde&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring the third goal. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SCPZHNE2IYMPTGYARE6F6CQBGY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8691e1c9f9b941177b199eb87d07c6d00e0be325a927e0f68c692206d06e81ee&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's N'Golo Kante celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XJLTWBFMPSAWJQB6NFST6INQXU.jpg?smart=true&auth=f1a38465913a31c0522c320dd70ef0a26faa3b7223ab049f1cc8b8106a7721e5&width=400&height=225)
![Auckland City's Dylan Manickum looks dejected after Al Ittihad's N'Golo Kante scores their second goal. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XMX2BZZNOANODV7HL26NTBROUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a63ad8f423e698ee49ff1e693f28d8bebf7ac3672eb24270d2cda6e42036f433&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's Romarinho celebrates after scoring the opener. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QNVFD7JFDUJ2ISWAXNRYN3G4BM.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa2ba76d66b3347295d16033de70f669f93be217bbf690edee884ad40735e235&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's Romarinho, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E7MVKU7DRBWVGWOIZQTKGRQL7U.jpg?smart=true&auth=3e07b2e3612203dc81a86530fcbaa1f59e751b6e2b1c076f86fce5b17ff0f848&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's Romarinho celebrates after scoring the opening goal. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VISHBB2KKIPG4HMFNCZZOT2ZO4.jpg?smart=true&auth=468a3ee71cdb0a3ba2c839dc10890501ab6b24ce2acbc41fc67ce86bcae5ff24&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema after being fouled. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I2UAYVCDE7RUOTTQSQ2U6HKHQY.jpg?smart=true&auth=53c5ea5f9b16dfdd550fdefeaf7f17058d328911941c77da53ab0dbc6fe9c478&width=400&height=225)
![Auckland City's Regont Murati in action with Al Ittihad's Zakaria Al Hawsawi. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LTUI6MZEZXZ63BAHFA3U24IOMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=2098cdce9a76623e5a5df91fe85f020806e4ea8d15b778d688e73d60a5f26ea6&width=400&height=225)
![Auckland City's Nathan Lobo in action. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RHFDJATVJC6HWJG4AO2PUNV4GA.jpg?smart=true&auth=635906f656b9083c6f31f307e16c7da59585b1b6c626017c3e59b813d7e1b331&width=400&height=225)
![An Al Ittihad fan before the match. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SREPKBMATAMHUCRXROLKHNEPEU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9da0587c322e4e3366e9b58470d9be16e32f68d7550f64c9021c6d3b405beb7f&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad fans in the stands. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LGDODXYTT5N7VUQWM7NB3M73WM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3d8c12876bc116fc19b4337ef93c291929805903d841a0b030d14c0941f7857d&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema celebrates with Muhannad Al Shanqeeti after scoring their third goal against Auckland City in the Club World Cup first round at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on December 12, 2023. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N7RHVR62HTNJD4BJVG5S5PGF54.jpg?smart=true&auth=b881dc1514eaa7313328e3ab53598a1e13c8c50bc595278a2acc11cccb303851&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring their third goal with Muhannad Al Shanqeeti. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DVG5532XBLCY7PXLGQMUH73X3U.jpg?smart=true&auth=c25a8cf2b98c7b8463017cdad3476c54e27fa7730d2adb46674500c3f68dfaac&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring their third goal. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M26CJPBVDOQFSVLC3LQZND7OG4.jpg?smart=true&auth=3d5feb7f31d4bd746712d10349559c516b1105c262ccfd299f601539a911bfde&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring the third goal. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SCPZHNE2IYMPTGYARE6F6CQBGY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8691e1c9f9b941177b199eb87d07c6d00e0be325a927e0f68c692206d06e81ee&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's N'Golo Kante celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XJLTWBFMPSAWJQB6NFST6INQXU.jpg?smart=true&auth=f1a38465913a31c0522c320dd70ef0a26faa3b7223ab049f1cc8b8106a7721e5&width=400&height=225)
![Auckland City's Dylan Manickum looks dejected after Al Ittihad's N'Golo Kante scores their second goal. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XMX2BZZNOANODV7HL26NTBROUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a63ad8f423e698ee49ff1e693f28d8bebf7ac3672eb24270d2cda6e42036f433&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's Romarinho celebrates after scoring the opener. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QNVFD7JFDUJ2ISWAXNRYN3G4BM.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa2ba76d66b3347295d16033de70f669f93be217bbf690edee884ad40735e235&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's Romarinho, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E7MVKU7DRBWVGWOIZQTKGRQL7U.jpg?smart=true&auth=3e07b2e3612203dc81a86530fcbaa1f59e751b6e2b1c076f86fce5b17ff0f848&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's Romarinho celebrates after scoring the opening goal. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VISHBB2KKIPG4HMFNCZZOT2ZO4.jpg?smart=true&auth=468a3ee71cdb0a3ba2c839dc10890501ab6b24ce2acbc41fc67ce86bcae5ff24&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema after being fouled. AP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I2UAYVCDE7RUOTTQSQ2U6HKHQY.jpg?smart=true&auth=53c5ea5f9b16dfdd550fdefeaf7f17058d328911941c77da53ab0dbc6fe9c478&width=400&height=225)
![Auckland City's Regont Murati in action with Al Ittihad's Zakaria Al Hawsawi. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LTUI6MZEZXZ63BAHFA3U24IOMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=2098cdce9a76623e5a5df91fe85f020806e4ea8d15b778d688e73d60a5f26ea6&width=400&height=225)
![Auckland City's Nathan Lobo in action. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RHFDJATVJC6HWJG4AO2PUNV4GA.jpg?smart=true&auth=635906f656b9083c6f31f307e16c7da59585b1b6c626017c3e59b813d7e1b331&width=400&height=225)
![An Al Ittihad fan before the match. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SREPKBMATAMHUCRXROLKHNEPEU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9da0587c322e4e3366e9b58470d9be16e32f68d7550f64c9021c6d3b405beb7f&width=400&height=225)
![Al Ittihad fans in the stands. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LGDODXYTT5N7VUQWM7NB3M73WM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3d8c12876bc116fc19b4337ef93c291929805903d841a0b030d14c0941f7857d&width=400&height=225)
Karim Benzema hails fans and vows Al Ittihad will fight to go far at the Club World Cup
Frenchman on target in 3-0 win over Auckland City that sets up second-round match against African champions Al Ahly
![John McAuley](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F42fdb821-a1ba-456f-980a-444e78c14d20.png?smart=true&auth=e06a33d0c3a9b91f69d2f6f0423c3e38ec6692b751de87539e969acaa5c3893f&width=70&height=70)
John McAuley
December 13, 2023
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic