The 2022 FIFA Club World Cup (officially known as the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2022 presented by Visit Saudi for sponsorship reasons) was the 19th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, a FIFA-organised international club football tournament between the winners of the six continental confederations, as well as the host nation's league champions. The tournament was held from 1 to 11 February 2023 in Morocco.[1]

Quick Facts FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2022presented by Visit Saudiكأس العالم للأندية لكرة القدم, Tournament details ...
2022 FIFA Club World Cup
FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2022
presented by Visit Saudi
كأس العالم للأندية لكرة القدم
المغرب 2022
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Tournament details
Host countryMorocco
Dates1–11 February 2023
Teams7 (from 6 confederations)
Venue(s)2 (in 2 host cities)
Final positions
ChampionsSpain Real Madrid (5th title)
Runners-upSaudi Arabia Al-Hilal
Third placeBrazil Flamengo
Fourth placeEgypt Al Ahly
Tournament statistics
Matches played7
Goals scored30 (4.29 per match)
Attendance282,276 (40,325 per match)
Top scorer(s)Pedro (Flamengo)
4 goals
Best player(s)Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)
Fair play awardSpain Real Madrid
2021
2023
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Chelsea were the defending champions, but they were not able to defend their title as they did not qualify after being eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League by eventual winners Real Madrid. The Spanish side went on to win the Club World Cup for a record fifth time, beating Al Ahly of Egypt 4–1 in the semi-finals before a 5–3 win over Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in the final.

This edition also marked the first time a club from the United States (Seattle Sounders FC) took part in the tournament.

Background and host appointment

While the Club World Cup was typically played annually in December, the 2022 tournament could not take place during this period due to the scheduling of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in November and December 2022. This, in conjunction with FIFA's planned future expansion of the Club World Cup, resulted in few public details on whether the 2022 tournament would take place.[2] However, US$20 million was allocated for the Club World Cup in FIFA's 2023 budget.[3][4] In December 2022, CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani implied the Club World Cup would take place in 2023, but would not be hosted by the United States.[5] On 14 December, FIFA announced the host and tournament dates would be confirmed at the FIFA Council meeting in Doha, Qatar, on 16 December.[6][7]

In May 2022, UOL Esporte reported that Japan were interested in hosting the tournament, having won hosting rights for the previous tournament before backing out due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.[8] UOL Esporte also reported in August that China were interested in holding the tournament, having originally been chosen to host an expanded Club World Cup in 2021 which was postponed due to scheduling issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] In September, Diario AS reported that the United States and the United Arab Emirates, hosts of the previous tournament, were also interested in staging the tournament.[10] In December, Diario AS reported that Morocco, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were the final contenders to host the tournament.[11] On 16 December 2022, the FIFA Council appointed Morocco as the host for the tournament, and confirmed it would take place from 1 to 11 February 2023.[12][1] Diario AS also reported that the final of the 2022 AFC Champions League, which had been pushed back to finish in May 2023 due to scheduling issues,[13] would be moved forward to facilitate the scheduling of the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup.[11] However, the AFC confirmed on 23 December 2022 that as the 2022 AFC Champions League would not be completed in time, Al-Hilal would be their representative at the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup as the reigning champions from the 2021 AFC Champions League.[14]

Qualified teams

Location of the teams participating in the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup
More information Team, Confederation ...
Team Confederation Qualification Qualified date Participation (bold indicates winners)
Entering in the semi-finals
Brazil Flamengo CONMEBOL Winners of the 2022 Copa Libertadores 29 October 2022 2nd (Previous: 2019)
Spain Real Madrid UEFA Winners of the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League 28 May 2022 6th (Previous: 2000, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Entering in the second round
Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal AFC Nominated by AFC and runner-up of the 2022 AFC Champions League[note 1] 23 December 2022 3rd (Previous: 2019, 2021)
Morocco Wydad Casablanca CAF Winners of the 2021–22 CAF Champions League[note 2] 30 May 2022 2nd (Previous: 2017)
United States Seattle Sounders FC CONCACAF Winners of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League 4 May 2022 1st
Entering in the first round
New Zealand Auckland City OFC Winners of the 2022 OFC Champions League 17 August 2022 10th (Previous: 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
Egypt Al Ahly CAF (host)[note 3] Runners-up of the 2021–22 CAF Champions League[note 3] 16 December 2022[note 4] 8th (Previous: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020, 2021)
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Notes

  1. Due to scheduling issues, it was confirmed that the final of the 2022 AFC Champions League, originally scheduled for October 2022, would not be completed until May 2023.[13] As the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup would already be held by that time, the AFC confirmed on 23 December 2022 that Al-Hilal would be their representative at the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup as the reigning champions from the 2021 AFC Champions League.[14]
  2. Wydad Casablanca also won the 2021–22 Botola, the host domestic league, on 29 June 2022.
  3. Al Ahly took the host Morocco's slot as Wydad Casablanca won the 2021–22 CAF Champions League.
  4. While Al Ahly were confirmed as finalists of the 2021–22 CAF Champions League with Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca on 14 May 2022, and finished as runners-up on 30 May 2022, their participation was not confirmed until Morocco were appointed as tournament hosts on 16 December 2022.

Venues

The matches were played at two venues, the Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier and the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.[15]

More information Tangier, Rabat ...
Location of the host cities of the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup.
Tangier Rabat
Ibn Batouta Stadium Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
Capacity: 65,000 Capacity: 53,000
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Match officials

On 14 January 2023, FIFA announced that six referees, twelve assistant referees and eight video assistant referees were appointed for the tournament.[16][17]

More information Confederation, Referees ...
Confederation Referees Assistant referees Video assistant referees
AFC Ma Ning (China)
Fu Ming (China)
CAF Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
Rédouane Jiyed (Morocco)
CONCACAF Iván Barton (El Salvador)
Fernando Guerrero (Mexico)
CONMEBOL Andrés Matonte (Uruguay)
UEFA István Kovács (Romania)
Anthony Taylor (England)
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Squads

Each team named a 23-man squad (three of whom had to be goalkeepers). Injury replacements were allowed until 24 hours before the team's first match.[18]

Matches

The draw of the tournament was held on 13 January 2023, 12:00 CET, at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Salé, Morocco, to decide the matchups of the second round (between the first round winner and teams from AFC, CAF and CONCACAF), and the opponents of the two second round winners in the semi-finals (against teams from CONMEBOL and UEFA).[19] In the second round draw, Wydad Casablanca and the winner of the first round match were pre-allocated to separate fixtures, with their opponents selected from the draw pot.[20] The match kick-off times and venues were confirmed after the draw.[21]

If a match was tied after normal playing time:[18]

  • For elimination matches, extra time was played. If still tied after extra time, a penalty shoot-out was held to determine the winner.
  • For the match for third place, no extra time would be played, and a penalty shoot-out would be held to determine the winner.
First roundSecond roundSemi-finalsFinal
4 February – Tangier
1 February – TangierUnited States Seattle Sounders FC08 February – Rabat
Egypt Al Ahly3Egypt Al Ahly1Egypt Al Ahly1
New Zealand Auckland City0Spain Real Madrid411 February – Rabat
Spain Real Madrid5
7 February – TangierSaudi Arabia Al-Hilal3
4 February – RabatBrazil Flamengo2
Morocco Wydad Casablanca1 (3)Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal3Match for third place
Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal (p)1 (5)11 February – Tangier
Egypt Al Ahly2
Brazil Flamengo4

All times are local, CET (UTC+1).[22]

First round

More information Al Ahly, 3–0 ...
Al Ahly Egypt3–0New Zealand Auckland City
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Attendance: 47,137
Referee: Ma Ning (China)

Second round

More information Wydad Casablanca, 1–1 (a.e.t.) ...
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More information Seattle Sounders FC, 0–1 ...
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Attendance: 30,589

Semi-finals

More information Flamengo, 2–3 ...
Flamengo Brazil2–3Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
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Attendance: 42,496

More information Al Ahly, 1–4 ...
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Match for third place

The match for third place, originally scheduled to be played at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, was moved on 9 February 2023 to Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier, in order to preserve the pitch for the final.[23]

More information Al Ahly, 2–4 ...
Al Ahly Egypt2–4Brazil Flamengo
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Final

More information Real Madrid, 5–3 ...
Real Madrid Spain5–3Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
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Goalscorers

Awards

The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament. Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid won the Golden Ball award.[24]

More information Golden Ball, Silver Ball ...
Golden Ball Silver Ball Bronze Ball
Brazil Vinícius Júnior
(Real Madrid)
Uruguay Federico Valverde
(Real Madrid)
Argentina Luciano Vietto
(Al-Hilal)
FIFA Fair Play Award
Spain Real Madrid
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FIFA also named a man of the match for the best player in each game at the tournament.

Sponsorship

Presenting Partner[32]

FIFA Partners[32]

Tournament Supporter[32]

Broadcasters

References

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