Club World Cup draw LIVE: Manchester City discover opponents in Fifa’s tournament of champions

Fifa’s Club World Cup takes place between 12 and 22 December 2023 in Saudi Arabia

(PA)

Manchester City will be facing either Club Leon or Urawa Red Diamonds in the Club World Cup when Fifa’s tournament of champions takes place this December.

Pep Guardiola’s men have never featured in the competition before but qualified when they defeated Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul back in June. By winning the trophy and secuing their title as champions of Europe, City have automatically progressed to the semi-finals of the Club World Cup alongside the eventual winners of the Copa Libertadores.

City will be competing against the winners of the different federations’ Champions Leagues as well as the champions of the host nation Saudi Arabia which is Al-Ittihad. While it is not seen as a big deal in Europe, the Club World Cup is highly respected among clubs from other continents and Guardiola will want to add the trophy to the Blues’ already impressive haul.

Follow all the updates from the Club World Cup draw:

Club World Cup draw live

• Manchester City learn who they’ll face in Fifa’s Club World Cup
• The tournament will take place between Tuesday 12 December and Friday 22 December
• Along with City, Al Ahly, Al Ittihad, Auckland City, Leon, and Urawa Red Diamonds have qualified for the competition
• City will play either Leon or Urawa Red Diamonds on December 19
• Club World Cup draw in full

[5 September 2023 12:46 · Mike Jones]

Club World Cup draw

Here’s a nice graphic to show how the Club World Cup will play out:

[5 September 2023 12:44 · Mike Jones]

Club World Cup draw

Whatever happens in the tournament it’ll be a quick trip to Saudi Arabia for Pep Guardiola’s men come December.

They take on either Mexico’s Club Leon or Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds in the second Club World Cup semi-final then will play in the final three days later should they progress.

City should be in the country for about five days in total if they go on to win the tournament but it’s an added complication to their already tight schedule.

[5 September 2023 12:40 · Mike Jones]

Club World Cup draw

Yaya Toure hopes to see Manchester City in the Club World Cup final and said after the draw:

“With the Treble they will want one more again.

“I hope they are going to win and I want to see them in the final.”

[5 September 2023 12:38 · Mike Jones]

Club World Cup draw

Here’s the draw in full including dates for each game:

First Round

Match 1: Al Ittihad vs Auckland City (12 December)

Second Round

Match 2: Al Ahly vs winner of Match 1 (15 December)

Match 3: Leon vs Urawa Red Diamonds (15 December)

Semi-finals

Match 4: Conmebol representatives vs Match 2 winners (18 December)

Match 5: Match 3 winners vs Manchester City (19 December)

Third place play-off

Match 4 losers vs Match 5 losers (22 December)

Final

Match 4 winners vs Match 5 winners (22 December)

[5 September 2023 12:33 · Mike Jones]

Club World Cup draw

For the semi-final draw, the winners of Match 2 (Al Ahly or the winner of Al Ittihad vs Auckland City) will take on the Conmebol representative.

Manchester City, meanwhile, will play either Leon or Urawa Red Diamonds.

[5 September 2023 12:32 · Mike Jones]

Club World Cup draw

First Round:

Al Ittihad vs Auckland City

Second Round:

Al Ahly vs winner of Al Ittihad vs Auckland City

Leon vs Urawa Red Diamonds

[5 September 2023 12:31 · Mike Jones]

Club World Cup draw

Urawa Red Diamonds are pulled out next and go into Match 3 as team D. They’ll take on Leon.

That means the winners of Al Ittihad vs Auckland City will face Al Ahly in Match 2.

[5 September 2023 12:30 · Mike Jones]

Club World Cup draw

Mexico’s Leon are drawn out next and they’re assigned team C meaning they will play in Match 3 or the second match of the second round.

[5 September 2023 12:29 · Mike Jones]

Club World Cup draw

Al Ahly are the first team out of the pot to make their ninth appearance in the tournament. They are team A and will play in the first match of the second round.

[5 September 2023 12:27 · Mike Jones]

Club World Cup draw

The second round fixtures are being draw from two pots. Four teams are being put in pot one, Al Ahly, Leon, Urawa Red Diamonds and the winners of the first round fixture between Al Ittihad and Auckland City.

In the second pot are letters A-D to determine which team will play where.