Fifa Club World Cup 2023: Players to watch, team profiles and how they qualified

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. As most South Americans do, Gallardo clearly cherishes the Club World Cup; in 2015, he went oh so close to winning, only to lose the final in Japan to Barcelona. Appointed Ittihad manager just last month – even still, the pressure will be on to guide his new side to a strong showing on home soil.

Key player: Karim Benzema

The high-profile signing that sparked an unprecedented summer transfer window for the Saudi Pro League – of course, Ronaldo laid the foundations last December – the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner has enjoyed Club World Cup success, too. With Real Madrid, Benzema lifted the trophy five times, including twice in Abu Dhabi (2017, 2018). Has four