Tournament Home on FIFA.com M1 | 12.12.18 | Al Ain - Team Wellington (Playoff) M2 | 15.12.18 | Espérance Tunis - Winner M1 (Quarterfinal) M3 | 15.12.18 | Kashima Antlers - CD Guadalajara (Quarterfinal) M4 | 18.12.18 | Loser M2 - Loser M3 (Match for 5th Place) M5 | 18.12.18 | River Plate - Winner M2 (Semifinal) M6 | 19.12.18 | Winner M3 - Real Madrid (Semifinal) M7 | 22.12.18 | Loser M6 - Loser M5 (Match for 3rd Place) M8 | 22.12.18 | Winner M6 - Winner M5 (Final) TV Coverage / Schedule (Time Zone Adjusted) / Squad Lists / Statistical Kit / Regulations Final Venue: Zayed Sports City UEFA: Real Madrid Club de Fútbol (Spain) CONMEBOL: Club Atlético River Plate (Argentina) CONCACAF: Club Deportivo Guadalajara S.A. de C.V. (Mexico) AFC: Kashima Antlers Football Club (Japan) CAF: Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia) OFC: Team Wellington Football Club (New Zealand) Host: Al Ain Football Club (UAE) Prize Money 1. USD 5,000,000 2. USD 4,000,000 3. USD 2,500,000 4. USD 2,000,000 5. USD 1,500,000 6. USD 1,000,000 7. USD 500,000 Total: 16.5 Million
Tournament Winners & Statistics: Intercontinental Cup 1960 Real Madrid (ESP) 1961 Peñarol (URU) 1962 Santos (BRA) 1963 Santos (BRA) 1964 Inter Milan (ITA) 1965 Inter Milan (ITA) 1966 Peñarol (URU) 1967 Racing Club (ARG) 1968 Estudiantes (ARG) 1969 AC Milan (ITA) 1970 Feyenoord (NED) 1971 Nacional (URU) 1972 Ajax Amsterdam (NED) 1973 Independiente (ARG) 1974 Atlético Madrid (ESP) 1975 No competition 1976 Bayern Munich (GER) 1977 Boca Juniors (ARG) 1978 No competition 1979 Olimpia (PAR) Toyota Cup 1980 Nacional (URU) 1981 Flamengo (BRA) 1982 Peñarol (URU) 1983 Grêmio (BRA) 1984 Independiente (ARG) 1985 Juventus (ITA) 1986 River Plate (ARG) 1987 FC Porto (POR) 1988 Nacional (URU) 1989 AC Milan (ITA) 1990 AC Milan (ITA) 1991 Red Star Belgrade (SER) 1992 São Paulo (BRA) 1993 São Paulo (BRA) 1994 Vélez Sarsfield (ARG) 1995 Ajax Amsterdam (NED) 1996 Juventus (ITA) 1997 Borussia Dortmund (GER) 1998 Real Madrid (ESP) 1999 Manchester United (ENG) 2000 Boca Juniors (ARG) 2001 Bayern Munich (GER) 2002 Real Madrid (ESP) 2003 Boca Juniors (ARG) 2004 FC Porto (POR) [Merger with Club World Cup*] Club World Cup 2000 Corinthians (BRA) 2001 No competition 2002 No competition 2003 No competition 2004 No competition [Merger with Toyota Cup*] 2005 São Paulo (BRA) 2006 Internacional (BRA) 2007 AC Milan (ITA) 2008 Manchester United (ENG) 2009 FC Barcelona (ESP) 2010 Inter Milan (ITA) 2011 FC Barcelona (ESP) 2012 Corinthians (BRA) 2013 Bayern Munich (GER) 2014 Real Madrid (ESP) 2015 FC Barcelona (ESP) 2016 Real Madrid (ESP) 2017 Real Madrid (ESP) Clubs with Multiple Titles 6 - Real Madrid (ESP) 4 - AC Milan (ITA) 3 - Bayern Munich (GER) 3 - Boca Juniors (ARG) 3 - FC Barcelona (ESP) 3 - Inter Milan (ITA) 3 - Nacional (URU) 3 - Peñarol (URU) 3 - São Paulo (BRA) 2 - Ajax Amsterdam (NED) 2 - Corinthians (BRA) 2 - FC Porto (POR) 2 - Independiente (ARG) 2 - Juventus (ITA) 2 - Manchester United (ENG) 2 - Santos (BRA) Titles by Association 10 - Brazil 10 - Spain 9 - Argentina 9 - Italy 6 - Uruguay 4 - Germany 3 - Netherlands 2 - England 2 - Portugal 1 - Paraguay 1 - Serbia Titles by Confederation 31 - UEFA 26 - CONMEBOL Note: FIFA has recognized all winners of the Intercontinental/Toyota Cup, played between 1960 and 2004, as club world champions.
"Emerging Confederations" Top Three Placements: AFC (Total 6) 2nd: 2016 3rd: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015 CONCACAF (Total 4) 3rd: 2000, 2005, 2012, 2017 CAF (Total 3) 2nd: 2010, 2013 3rd: 2006 OFC (Total 1) 3rd: 2014
Right, less than 48 hours until the playoff match between Al Ain and Team Wellington. In a welcome change the OFC is not represented by Auckland City this year. Instead it's Team Wellington, founded in 2004 by a consortium of Wellington clubs. While Auckland City always made it a point to schedule some friendlies against professional sides to prepare them for the CWC, it doesn't seem like Team Welly has done that this year. All I see is some training matches against (University?) selections in the UAE. Not sure that's the ideal way to prepare given Team Welly's semi-professional background. Al Ain of course won't care and look to leave their mark in their home stadium. While they are missing UAE star player Omar Abdulrahman (out on loan) they are currently topping the UAE standings with Swedish national team forward Marcus Berg providing the goals. Al Ain, nicknamed "the boss", are the most successful club in the country. They are league record winners and the only UAE team to lift the AFC Champions League (2003). Nevertheless, they would be foolish to look past Team Wellington. Al Jazira struggled quite a bit last year in their opener against Auckland City.
My mistake. What was initially reported as a loan turned out to be a free transfer to Al Hilal, where he is reportedly earning EUR 14M per season. In any case, he is currently injured (torn ACL) and will also miss the AFC Nations Cup next month.
Chivas are going to wear a limited edition kit at the CWC. Speaking of Chivas, I noticed one foreigner on their official roster. Given their "Mexico only" policy I presume he is a dual citizen? Number of foreign players per club: 1 - Chivas 3 - Esperance 5 - Kashima 6 - Al Ain 6 - River Plate 6 - Wellington 10 - Real Madrid
Yup, and not the first. The player in question is Mexican for all intents and purposes, but FIFA curiously registered him as from the US just to screw with Vergara, I hope
Matchday. Two debutants. While the oasis city of Al Ain had some poor crowds last year today should be much improved given the home team’s involvement. Al Ain FC are well supported, for UAE standards anyway. There should be, at the very least, a five-digit crowd. Looking ahead in terms of attendance, full stands are very closely linked to the success of the home team. Almost nothing went in favor of the ticket sellers in the continental competitions: UEFA – Real Madrid is back (without Ronaldo) and a number of casual fans would have gotten their Real Madrid fix last year. CONMEBOL – The Libertadores was already the last continental tournament scheduled to conclude before the second leg fiasco. Now River Plate fans have almost no time to plan their trip. Therefore I don’t think South American fans will show up in their usual strength. CAF – The team that could have filled both stadiums on its own (Al Ahly) lost the final. Unlike Egypt, Tunisia has small expat population in the UAE. AFC – Same here. Persepolis could have drawn at least 10K to matches but instead Kashima won. I suppose Chivas, being Mexico’s most popular team, will bring an above-average Mexican contingent. And as already mentioned, the host is an upgrade over Al Jazira. Nevertheless, color me pessimistic when it comes to attendance.
Well, River Plate fans who were in Madrid will probably continue on east to UAE. Maybe, that is an expensive stay, tho. Let's hope they pack the house, and there is no hooliganism.
It's probably the opposite. Those in Madrid have already used up their goodwill with employer/family. I don't think many River Plate supporters fancy the thought of seeing a UAE prison from the inside. Whatever they get away with in Buenos Aires won't be shrugged off here.
All clubs have arrived in the UAE with the exception of Real Madrid. Real play their last UCL game of the year tonight and have one more La Liga match on Saturday. 20 minutes to kick-off...
This is our friendly reminder of why you should never bet on football: Kiwis about to run Al Ain out of their own house I'm sure @It's called FOOTBALL must be jumping on one foot at the prospect of only continental champs remaining after this
The NBC Universo announcers (the color analyst, to be specific) are bitching about the use of VAR on that play, stating that they've never before seen a goal called back b/c of a foul
Good memory, breh. Not bad, I was in fact gonna remark that I'm glad a noncontinental champ is bounced if this score holds. Extra incentive for GDL to pwn Kashima since they were one of 2 noncon champs to reach the Final.
HT: Al Ain - Team Wellington 1:3 What an exciting first half! Terrific opening strike by Team Welly. Four goals. One disallowed for Al Ain after VAR. Al Ain really needs to come out swinging if they hope to avoid embarrassment!
2:3 with 25 minutes to go. Al Ain turning up the heat. Pretty sure I spotted a guy with a Wellington Phoenix shirt in the crowd. Wrong Wellington mate!
3:3! Marcus Berg comes on and scores the equalizer. It was coming. Team Welly fighting bravely but Al Ain all over them. [Edit] It goes to extra time.
Welp, the dream ends for the semi-pros: Al Ain's goalkeeper Khalid came up big with two saves for the hosts to advance on penalties.
Well, I think it's safe to say this was the most exciting playoff match since it was introduced in 2007. Al Ain come back from 0:3 to win it 4:3 on penalties. A big congrats to Team Wellington on what must have been the game of their lives. I'm sure they will return to Oceania motivated to win their 2nd OFC CL so that they can return. Al Ain progress after a major scare and really have to sort out their defense if they want to beat a tactically disciplined Esperance. The stupid red card by Mohammed Abdulrahman (Omar's brother) in the 120th minute doesn't help their cause.
Booooooooooooooo!!!! Ain couldn't even make it to the final 8 of the AFC CL, yet here they are, even with its champ.
Matchday 1 - Summary: M1 | 12.12.18 | Al Ain - Team Wellington 3:3/4:3 PSO (Playoff) M2 | 15.12.18 | Espérance Tunis - Al Ain (Quarterfinal) M3 | 15.12.18 | Kashima Antlers - CD Guadalajara (Quarterfinal) M4 | 18.12.18 | Loser M2 - Loser M3 (Match for 5th Place) M5 | 18.12.18 | River Plate - Winner M2 (Semifinal) M6 | 19.12.18 | Winner M3 - Real Madrid (Semifinal) M7 | 22.12.18 | Loser M6 - Loser M5 (Match for 3rd Place) M8 | 22.12.18 | Winner M6 - Winner M5 (Final)
Moving on to Saturday's games... (which I have the pleasure of attending) First of all to, Match 3 (Kashima - Chivas) is played before Match 2. QF: Kashima Antlers - CD Guadalajara CD Guadalajara, commonly known as Chivas (goats) are participating in the CWC for the first time in their history. They are probably the most popular club in Mexico and fierce rivals of Club America. As indicated earlier, they employ a "Mexico only" policy and have no foreigners playing for them. The club only has two international titles to date. The very first (1962) and most recent CONCACAF Champions League. Those sparse international honors are contrasted with record league titles domestically. Not this season however as Chivas missed the Mexican Liguilla (playoffs). In sporting terms Kashima Antlers provide a Japanese mirror of sorts for Chivas. They too are record champions domestically and have almost nothing to show for internationally. The 2018 AFC Champions League title was their first. The name ‘Antlers’ is derived from the city of Kashima, which literally translates to ‘Deer Island’. Unlike Chivas they have been to the CWC before - as hosts. And there of course they took Real Madrid all the way to extra time in the final. Needless to say they would love a re-match. Kashima finished third in the just completed J1 League. Antlers vs. Goat Horns. Who will prevail?
QF: Espérance Tunis - Al Ain Espérance Sportive de Tunis are back in the CWC for a second time after 2011. And once again they are involved in an all-Arab quarterfinal (last time against Qatar's Al Sadd). In 2011 they lost both games and I'm sure the Blood and Gold are eager to give a better account of themselves against their Gulf brethren. Espérance are record league winners in Tunisia and have three CAF Champions League titles and one Afro-Asian Cup to their name. I am going to pile on the pressure on Espérance (which translates to 'hope') and call out CAF this year. CAF as a confederation still has more final appearances than the AFC, CONCACAF and the OFC combined but look at the results since Raja Casablanca's run to the final in 2013: 2014: Moghreb Tetouan - Auckland City 0:0 AET; 3:4 PEN 2014: ES Setif - Auckland City 0:1 2014: ES Setif - Western Sydney Wanderers 2:2; 5:4 PEN 2015: TP Mazembe - Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0:3 2015: Club America - TP Mazembe 2:1 2016: Mamelodi Sundowns - Kashima Antlers 0:2 2016: Jeonbuk Motors - Mamelodi Sundowns 4:1 2017: CF Pachuca - Wydad Casablanca 1:0 AET 2017: Wydad Casablanca - Urawa Reds 2:3 Nine matches and only one of them had a favorable outcome for the CAF club, ES Setif beating the Wanderers - the worst Asian champion in years. Not. good. enough.