Draw lays out path to Club World Cup glory

Words: FIFA.com

Monday 9 October 2017

Picture: FIFA via Getty Images

Held in Abu Dhabi, Monday’s official draw for the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017 mapped out the road to global glory for the seven clubs taking part in the final tournament of the year, which takes place between 6 and 16 December.

Who plays who?
With UAE league champions Al Jazira and OFC Champions League winners Auckland City set to face each other in the opening game, the draw decided the second-round pairings, which will feature the winners of the tournament curtain-raiser, Mexico’s Pachuca and the CAF and AFC champions. The draw also revealed who the second-round winners will face in the semis, when Real Madrid and the Copa Libertadores champions will join the competition.

Full Draw
CF Pachuca vs CAF Champions League winners
*The winners will play the Copa Libertadores champions in the semi-finals

Al Jazira/Auckland City vs AFC Champions League winners
*The winners will play Real Madrid in the semi-finals

The #ClubWC draw has taken place in UAE
Find out the road to global glory for the 7 teams involved
https://t.co/YP4VS0ddeK pic.twitter.com/nEYJxsIo2X

— #FIFAU17WC (@FIFAcom) October 9, 2017

An eagerly awaited event
Overseeing the draw was FIFA Event Manager Jaime Yarza, who was ably assisted by FIFA Legend Ivan Cordoba, Emirati icon Abdulrahim Jumaa, with Mikael Silvestre and Eric Abidal - also FIFA Legends - among those looking on. Also taking part in the ceremony was Major General Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaithi, the president of the tournament’s Local Organising Committee.

"We are honoured that UAE is once again hosting this world-renowned tournament," said Al Rumaithi. "This tournament will be an extraordinary celebration of professional football and international talent, and will showcase the superb facilities and hospitality our country has to offer. We are looking forward to welcoming the teams this December."

Excitement levels are already rising in the host cities of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and across the UAE as whole as it prepares to host the Club World Cup again, having already done so in 2009 and 2010. And if you want to be a part of the last major footballing event of 2017, then click here for all the details on how to buy tickets.