CLUB WORLD CUP
Real Madrid now knows its great rival in the Club World Cup
The Spanish giants will once again be the clear favorite to win the tournament, and the biggest opponent has been decided.
Flamengo from Brazil will be Real Madrid’s great rival in the next Club World Cup after winning the Copa Libertadores, beating Athletico Paranaense in the final 1-0.
Flamengo to challenge Madrid crown
Gabriel Barbosa, Gabigol, was the scorer of the goal that gave Flamengo the third Copa Libertadores in its history and qualified the team from Rio de Janeiro for the semifinals of the Club World Cup. The venue and dates on which the tournament will be held are still unclear.
In addition to Los Blancos, as UEFA’s representative after winning the prestigious Champions League and which also directly puts them into the semi-finals of the Club World Cup, and Flamengo, also guaranteed their presence is Seattle Sounders from the United States, as winner of the CONCACAF Champions League; Wydad Casablanca from Morocco, as champion of the African Champions League; and Auckland City from New Zealand, winner of the Oceania Champions League.
Two teams remain to be announced, the one that will represent the organizing country (tbc) and the winner of the Asian Champions League, which will be confirmed on 26 February 2023, the date on which the second leg of the final is played. The Japanese side Urawa is one of the finalists, but it remains to be seen who will be their rival.