Beginning Tuesday, Saudi Arabia will for the first time host the Fifa Club World Cup, with the kingdom represented at the seven-team tournament in Jeddah by Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad.
Current Uefa Champions League holders Manchester City debut at the tournament, alongside the likes of Egyptian giants Al Ahly and South American counterparts Fluminense. How they qualified: 2022/23 Saudi Pro League winners With the host nation always represented by its reigning champion, the Jeddah side booked their spot at the home event by capturing a first Saudi top-flight in 14 years.
Ittihad pipped to the title Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr with one match to spare. Previous Club World Cup participations: 1 Ittihad competed in the tournament in Japan 2005, where they saw off Egypt’s Al Ahly to reach the semi-final.
They then lost a dramatic last-four encounter with Brazil’s Sao Paulo, when they were beaten 3-2. Manager: Marcelo Gallardo The renowned Argentine had carved an incredible coaching career with boyhood club River Plate, winning 14 trophies during an eight-year spell.