FIFA picks Morocco to host Club World Cup in February

On Friday, Morocco was rewarded by FIFA with hosting rights for the next Club World Cup in 2023.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the news of the tournament, which will run from February 1-11. European champion Real Madrid, South American champion Flamengo and Seattle Sounders, the first CONCACAF Champions League winner from the United States, will play in the traditional seven-team tournament.

FIFA confirmed Morocco will host the next edition of the Club World Cup following the team’s historic performance at the World Cup.

Morocco made history after becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi finals of the World Cup in Qatar. pic.twitter.com/RyUUp8x7wl

— Doha News (@dohanews) December 16, 2022

Morocco’s Wydad Club Athletic will represent Africa as the 2021/22 CAF Champions League titleholder.

This is the third time the North African country will be hosting the Club World Cup after also doing so in 2013 and 2014.

Related:

From FIFA: 🇲🇦 Morocco will host the Club World Cup – February 1-11, 2023.

Teams include: Real Madrid, Flamengo, Seattle Sounders, Auckland City & Wydad Casablanca. 2 teams TBD.

Great to see an @MLS team there!

— Stu Holden (@stuholden) December 16, 2022

Morocco inspiring generations

The tournament will be one of the last seven-team editions for continental champions with an expanded, month-long tournament planned to take place in 2025.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the intended change was “making it really like a World Cup.”

Now, following Morocco’s inspiring run to the World Cup semifinals at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the Atlas Lions can continue inspiring the Arab and African world.

Morocco will play Croatia in the third-place playoff on Saturday.

Source link