PARIS: Chelsea will play either the winners of the Asian Champions League or Mexican side Monterrey in the semifinals of December’s Club World Cup in Japan, after the draw for the tournament was made by FIFA yesterday.
The identity of the team representing Asia in the annual intercontinental competition will not be known until the final of the Asian Champions League on Nov. 10.
The other quarterfinal will be contested by the champions of Africa and the winners of a play-off between Oceania champions Auckland City of New Zealand and the winners of Japan’s national football championship.
The Japanese top flight concludes on December 1, while four teams are in contention to win the African Champions League, with Sunshine Stars (Nigeria), Al Ahly (Egypt), TP Mazembe (DR Congo) and Esperance (Tunisia) all through to the semi-finals.
The victors in the second quarterfinal will tackle South American champions Corinthians in the other last-four tie.
Chelsea qualified for the tournament by beating Bayern Munich on penalties in May’s UEFA Champions League final and Roberto di Matteo’s side will be seeking to succeed Barcelona as World Club champions.
Japan has hosted five of the last seven tournaments, but the next two editions of the competition are scheduled to take place in Morocco.
“Japan was terribly affected on March 11 last year (by a tsunami and a nuclear disaster) and we’d already decided to return to Japan,” said FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
“We’ve also organized the women’s Under-20 World Cup there (in August and September). This will be the last time and I’m sure it’ll be a testament to the Japanese federation’s organizational qualities.” The major news at the ninth edition of the tournament will be the use of goal-line technology, after lawmakers the International FA Board approved its introduction in July.
Two companies have been authorized to provide the requisite technology: Hawk-Eye, which uses cameras to track the movement of the ball; and GoalRef, which features the installation of a magnetic field in the goalmouth and a microchip in the ball.
All eight previous competitions have been won by clubs from either Europe (5) or South America (3), with only one team from another continent — TP Mazembe, in 2010 — having managed to reach the final.
2012 Club World Cup draw:
December 6
At Yokohama, Japan
Play-off match
Japanese champions vs. Auckland City (NZL)
December 9
At Toyota, Japan
Quarterfinals
Play-off winners vs. African champions.
Asian champions vs. Monterrey (MEX).
December 12
At Toyota
Semifinal
Winners of quarterfinal 1 vs. Corinthians (BRA)
Fifth-place play-off
Losers of quarterfinal 2 vs. Losers of quarterfinal 1
December 13
At Yokohama
Semifinal
Winners of quarterfinal 2 vs. Chelsea (ENG)
December 16
At Yokohama
Final
Winners of semifinal 1 vs. Winners of semifinal 2
Third-place play-off
Losers of semifinal 1 vs. Losers of semifinal 2
Chelsea learns Club World Cup fate
Chelsea learns Club World Cup fate
Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup 2027 dates confirmed
- After a record-breaking tournament in January, the competition returns next year from Jan. 8-10
ABU DHABI: The Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup will return in 2027 following another record-breaking edition last month, and the registration window is now open.
From Jan. 8 to 10, 2027, teams from across the world will be able to compete in the eighth edition of the region’s Tournament of Choice.
The competition’s three-day format returns after a successful expansion this year that had more than 8,000 people attend Zayed Sports City across a weekend that featured 3,500 local, regional and international players.
In total, 244 teams from the under-8 to under-16 categories competed in the 2026 edition, with 86 international sides, spanning 18 countries, four continents, and a record-breaking 44 girl teams.
Off the pitch, players and spectators were able to enjoy the City Village that played host to entertainment and activations supported by the club’s partners.
This included the e& Gaming Zone, Puma pop-up and Aldar’s showcase of Fahid Island, as well as performances from a DJ and visits from special guests, including tournament ambassador and Manchester City legend Nedum Onuoha, and event host FG.
Teams will compete for the Abu Dhabi Cup, and individual age-group winners will go into a prize draw for their team to win a trip to a City Football Group club, where they will train and watch the first team in action.
Simon Hewitt, tournament director, and director of Football Operations MENA, said the 2026 edition was a “landmark event.”
“It was the first time we had expanded the tournament to three days, and the reaction to that decision was incredible. Players were able to spend more time on the pitch, take in the incredible atmosphere of the City Village, and enjoy the sights and attractions of Abu Dhabi.
“We might only be a month removed from that tournament, but the hard work in preparing for 2027 starts now. Already, teams are asking when they can register, and we expect huge competition for places from all over the world.”
