Saudi Arabia to host FIFA Club World Cup in 2023

Saudi Arabia will host the 20th FIFA Club World Cup later this year, becoming only the sixth nation to stage the tournament.

The kingdom, which will host the tournament during December 12-22, will become the third GCC country to stage it, besides Qatar and the UAE.

The tournament has also been hosted by Brazil, Japan and Morocco. Meanwhile, Real Madrid were crowned champions at the recently concluded FIFA Club World Cup.

الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم FIFA:

السعودية تستضيف كأس العالم للأندية 2023 ??#مونديال_الأندية_بالسعودية#Clubwc pic.twitter.com/2a2pjE87Qi

— الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم (@saudiFF) February 14, 2023

Following the announcement, Saudi Arabia’s sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, said: “We are proud of this hosting, and we welcome the most powerful football clubs in the world and their fans in the kingdom and abroad.”

“Today, the kingdom is taking an important step forward in the journey of transformation in the field of football, and we are confident that everyone will live the reality of the progress that has been achieved in our country at various levels,” Al-Faisal added, who is also the president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

The 2023 edition of the tournament will be the penultimate Club World Cup to feature seven sides, before it expands to a 32-team event in 2025, FIFA said in a statement.

“Today, Saudi football is witnessing unprecedented growth, and it has become the focus of the world’s attention,” added Yasser Al Misehal, president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and member of the FIFA Council.

The kingdom’s national team registered a historic win at the FIFA World Cup held in Qatar last year, beating champions Argentina.

Read: Saudi Arabia announces public holiday after historic FIFA World Cup win

Saudi Arabia also secured the rights to host the AFC Asian Cup 2027, earlier this year, with the tournament’s qualifying phase commencing in October.

Read: Saudi Arabia wins rights to host AFC Asian Cup 2027