The FIFA Club World Cup is an international competition for senior men’s football, contested by the teams of member confederation’s continental club competitions. First held in 2000, Bayern Munich of Germany are the current holders having won the 2020 competition in Qatar, following a 1-0 win over UANL of Mexico.
The tournament is due to undergo a complete overhaul in 2022 or 2023, with the tournament expanded to 24 teams.
When is the FIFA Club World Cup?
The FIFA Club World Cup takes place yearly, with the 2021 edition to be the 18th competition. The 2021 tournament was due to be held between the 9th and 19th December 2021 but has been postponed to February 2022.
Where is the FIFA Club World Cup?
The 2021 FIFA Club World Cup was to be hosted in Japan, the ninth time the country has hosted the tournament after also hosting between 2005-2008, 2011-2012 and 2015-2016.
However in September 2021 Japan withdrew from hosting the tournament due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. A month later, the United Arab Emirates was announced as the new hosts, the third time the country has hosted the country.
The matches will be played at two venues in Abu Dhabi:
- Abu Dhabi – Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium (Capacity – 37,500)
- Abu Dhabi – Al Nahyan Stadium (Capacity – 15,000)
From 2022 or 2023 the FIFA Club World Cup will be under a new format, expanding to 24 teams with the competition moving to June/July and being played in China.
Who is competing in the FIFA Club World Cup?
The host nation’s national champions compete along with that year’s winners from the AFC Champions League (Asia), CAF Champions League (Africa), CONCACAF Champions League (North America), Copa Libertadores (South America), OFC Champions League (Oceeania) and UEFA Champions League (UEFA).
The 2021 qualifiers are:
- Hosts – Al Jazira (United Arab Emirates)
- AFC – Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
- CAF – Al Ahly (Egypt)
- CONCACAF – Monterrey (Mexico)
- CONMEBOL – Palmeiras (Brazil)
- OFC – Auckland City (New Zealand)
- UEFA – Chelsea (England)
How do I get to the FIFA Club World Cup?
Thinking of flying to the United Arab Emirates? Search & book your flights through Skyscanner.
How do I get tickets to the FIFA Club World Cup?
To purchase tickets and for further ticket information, consult the ticketing section of the official FIFA ticketing website here.
Hotels for the FIFA Club World Cup
Use TripAdvisor to find some great places to stay in the United Arab Emirates by clicking here.
Further Information
FIFA Club World Cup Official Website