FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP

How much will Real Madrid make if they win the FIFA Club World Cup?

Real Madrid will be gunning for a record fifth FIFA Club World Cup victory in Saturday’s final against Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia.

JESUS ALVAREZ ORIHUELADiarioAS

It’s been short, but it’s been sweet. The FIFA Club World Cup reaches its conclusion on Saturday, with Real Madrid, odds-on favourites to win the competition when it kicked off 10 or so days ago, taking on Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, who few had predicted would get past Flamengo in the semi-finals, in Rabat.

For Los Blancos, it’s the chance to get their hands back on a trophy that they won four times in five years between 2014 and 2018, although that triumph in the United Arab Emirates was their last, with Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Chelsea winning in the intervening years.

European dominance at the FIFA Club World Cup

You may have noticed a trend when reading those names and, given the vast financial superiority European clubs have compared to those anywhere else in the world, you won’t be surprised to hear that UEFA representatives have completely dominated the FIFA Club World Cup since its foundation in 2000. Brazilian clubs won the first three editions but that has been followed by 14 European victories in 15 tournaments, with Corinthians’ 2012 win in Japan the outlier.

Al Hilal have become just the third Asian side ever to reach the final after Kashima Antlers in 2016 and Al Ain in 2018, both of whom lost to – you guessed it – Real Madrid. The Saudi Arabians are therefore bidding to become the first team from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to win the tournament and the first to defeat Los Blancos in a FIFA Club World Cup final.

How much do the FIFA Club World Cup winners get?

Silverware isn’t the only thing at stake in Saturday’s final in Rabat, with the winner of the tournament also pocketing $5 million. $1 million will be the difference between winning and losing, as the runners-up will take home $4 million in compensation for being upset about missing out on a trophy.

The third/fourth-place playoff, which will be played earlier on Saturday, will carry a similar incentive but with the stakes slightly lower. Brazilian side Flamengo and Al Ahly of Egypt will fight it out for third ($2.5 million), with the loser collecting $2 million. Moroccans Wydad Casablanca and MLS club Seattle Sounders, who were defeated in the second round, pick up $1 million each, while Auckland City of New Zealand, beaten by Al Ahly in the first round, take home $500,000.

What time does the FIFA Club World Cup final kickoff?

The FIFA Club World Cup final between Real Madrid and Al Hilal in Rabat kicks off at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT on Saturday 11 February. You can, of course follow live coverage of the game on AS USA.

The third-place playoff between Flamengo and Al Ahly will also take place on Saturday 11 February. The game in Tangier kicks off at 10:30 a.m. ET / 7:30 a.m. PT and we’ll keep you across what goes on there too.

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