Shortlist of candidates to play at the 2023 Club World Cup

The 2023 FIFA Club World Cup will be the penultimate version using the existing format after the FIFA Council recently voted in approving a new 32 team format in a new version of the competition that will come into existence in 2025.

Saudi Arabia will host the 2023 competition and at present it’s not clear if the games will take place in Riyadh or Jeddah. Staying true to the existing format of the competition, seven sides will participate with six being the winners of the local top club competitions in each confederation along with a local club who are admitted as a guest. For the 2023 edition, the local participant will be the winner of the 22-23 Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal currently topping the table with a three point advantage over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr.

AFC possible candidates

The delayed AFC Champions League final will be staged over two legs and Al-Hilal are one of the finalists and the Riyadh based side will take on Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds with game one getting underway this weekend.

Should the Saudi side win the competition and/or the domestic league, then the side from Saitama would progress to represent the region at the Club World Cup next December.

UEFA: Champions League

The elite club competition in Europe is down to four teams as reigning champions Real Madrid play Manchester City with the other semi-final pitting Milan giants AC against Inter over two legs. The final will be staged at Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium on 10 June with the winner also progressing to the UEFA Super Cup (set to be staged in Piraeus (Greece) in August along with sealing a place at the Club World Cup in December. Of the four semifinalists, only Man City have never lifted the famous trophy.

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CONMEBOL: Libertadores

The 2023 Copa Libertadores has recently commenced with the competition still at the group stage. The South American participant in Saudi will only be known on 4 November when the final is scheduled to be staged.

CAF: Champions League

Eight teams are still dreaming of winning the CAF Champions League after the first round of quarter-final games played last week. The final will be deiced over two legs with games earmarked for 4/11 June.

The remaining teams are:

CONCACAF CL

The final of the competition will be an MLS-Liga MX match-up with LAFC and Philadelphia Union tying the first leg of the semi-final in Philly on Wednesday night.

The previous 24 hours saw Tigres UANL overcome Club Leon (2-1) to take a step closer to a return to the Club World Cup for the second time. LAFC, the Union or Leon have never tasted participation at a CWC competition.

OFC

The group stage of the OFC Champions League is set to be staged in May with the top two teams from two groups of four set to dispute the title. We’ll know the winner and subsequent OFC participant in Saudi Arabia come 27 May when the final is scheduled.