Jeddah named host city for 2023 Club World Cup

With Saudi Arabian football expanding with a host of big money signings of world class talent, the city of Jeddah in the kingdom has now been selected to host the 2023 Club World Cup.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab Staff & Agencies

London

27 June, 2023

Karim Benzema, who lifted the 2022 Club World Cup with Real Madrid, now plays with Al-Ittihad of Jeddah, host city of the 2023 tournament [Getty]

The 2023 Club World Cup will take place in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, football's world governing body FIFA said on Monday.

The decision was made following a FIFA delegation visit to Jeddah last week to assess ongoing preparations for the tournament.

"We are delighted that Jeddah, with its state-of-the-art facilities and reputation for hosting major international sports events, has been selected as host city for the FIFA Club World Cup," President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) Yasser Al Misehal said.

في ديسمبر الأنظار تتجه إلى جـدة 💚
لمشاهدة أكبر حدث عالمي للأندية 🌍

مرحبًا بالعالم في السعودية 🇸🇦#مونديال_الأندية_بالسعودية #Clubwc pic.twitter.com/ObI1D1z46o
— الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم (@saudiFF) June 26, 2023

The tournament, which will be played from Dec. 12-22, will be held in Saudi Arabia for the first time, as previously announced in February.

The 2023 edition of the Club World Cup will be the last of current format -- an annual competition with seven teams -- which will be discontinued before its expansion to a 32-team event to first be held in 2025 in the United States.

(Reuters)