The FIFA Club World Cup will kick off this Wednesday (1st), when Al Ahly (Egypt) and Auckland City (New Zealand) take to the pitch of the Ibn Batouta Stadium, in Tangier (Morocco), from 4 pm (midnight time) Brasilia).
However, the attention of the Brazilian fans is focused on Flamengo, which returns to compete in the competition after a three-year hiatus. The current Libertadores champion already had the privilege of conquering the world in 1981, when, captained by Zico, he defeated Liverpool (England) by 3 to 0.
Now Rubro-Negro is looking for the only title missing from a winning generation, which has names like Arrascaeta, Gabriel Barbosa and Pedro.
For this, you will have to forget your last participation in the competition, when, in 2019, you beat Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) by 3 to 1 in the semifinal, but fell to Liverpool in the big decision by 1 to 0.
The #ClubWC has arrived. Who are you cheering on?
?? @Alhilal_FC
?? @Real Madrid
?? @Flamengo
?? @AlAhly
?? @WACofficiel
?? @SoundersFC
?? @AucklandCity_FC pic.twitter.com/AGeloMpoLu
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) January 31, 2023
Before heading to Morocco, Flamengo still has an appointment for the Guanabara Cup of the Carioca Championship, as it faces Boavista starting at 9:10 pm this Wednesday.
For the World Cup, the Gávea team will debut only from 4 pm next Tuesday (7), against the winner of the confrontation between Al Hilal, Asian champion, and Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), African champion, but who plays as a representative of the host country.
The other major attraction of the competition is Real Madrid (Spain). The current holder of the Champions League title returns to an edition of the Club World Cup after a four-year hiatus with the aim of expanding his gallery of achievements. The Meringues have seven world titles.
Like Flamengo, Real Madrid will also debut in the semifinal stage, but next Wednesday (8) against the winner of the confrontation between Seattle Sounders (United States), Concacaf champion, and the team that passes between Al Ahly, second in the African continent, and Auckland City, champion of the Oceania Champions League.
The Club World Cup final is scheduled to be played on February 11.
* Collaboration of Pedro Dabés (intern) under the supervision of Verônica Dalcanal.