The 2023 FIFA Club World Cup (officially titled the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 presented by Visit Saudi for sponsorship purposes) was the 20th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup and the final edition held under the previous format. Organised by FIFA, the tournament featured seven teams comprising the winners of each of the six continental confederations' top club competitions, along with the champions of the host nation's domestic league. It was held in Saudi Arabia from 12 to 22 December 2023.
Real Madrid were the defending champions, but were not able to defend their title after being eliminated in the semi-finals of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League by eventual winners Manchester City. The English team won the edition by beating the Brazilian team Fluminense 4–0 in the final, claiming their first title. This edition marked the conclusion of the Club World Cup's seven-team format, which had been in place since the competition's inception in 2000 (with the exception of 2001 when the tournament was cancelled). It was the last before the tournament's expansion to a 32-team event beginning with the 2025 edition.
Host appointment Although an expanded, quadrennial Club World Cup was planned for 2025, FIFA confirmed on 13 February 2023 that a 2023 tournament would be held using the previous seven-team format. Earlier that month, UOL Esporte reported that Saudi Arabia were interested in hosting the 2023 and 2024 Club World Cup tournaments. On 14 February, the FIFA Council confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2023 tournament.
Qualified teams
TeamConfederationQualificationQualified dateParticipationEntering in the semi-finals FluminenseCONMEBOLWinners of the 2023 Copa Libertadores4 November 2023Debut Manchester CityUEFAWinners of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League10 June 2023DebutEntering in the second round Urawa Red DiamondsAFCWinners of the 2022 AFC Champions League26 February 20233rd Al AhlyCAFWinners of the 2022–23 CAF Champions League11 June 20239th LeónCONCACAFWinners of the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League4 June 2023DebutEntering in the first round Auckland CityOFCWinners of the 2023 OFC Champions League27 May 202311th Al-IttihadAFC (host)Winners of the 2022–23 Saudi Pro League27 May 20232nd Notes
Venues On 26 June 2023, FIFA and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) confirmed that all matches in the tournament would be played in the city of Jeddah in two stadiums.
Jeddah King Abdullah Sports City Stadium Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium Capacity: 62,345 Capacity: 27,000
Match officials On 3 November 2023, FIFA announced that five referees, ten assistant referees and eight video assistant referees were appointed for the tournament.
ConfederationRefereesAssistant refereesVideo assistant refereesAFCMohammed Al-Hoish (Saudi Arabia)Khamis Al-Marri (Qatar)CAFJean-Jacques Ndala (DR Congo)Adil Zourak (Morocco)CONCACAFTori Penso (United States)Tatiana Guzmán (Nicaragua)CONMEBOLJesús Valenzuela (Venezuela)UEFASzymon Marciniak (Poland)
One support referee was also named for the tournament.
ConfederationSupport refereeOFC Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh (New Zealand)
Squads
Each team had to name a 23-man squad (three of whom had to be goalkeepers). Injury replacements were allowed until 24 hours before the team's first match.
Matches If a match was tied after normal playing time:
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.
Bracket
All times are local, SAST (UTC+3).
First round
Second round
Semi-finals
Match for third place
Final
Goalscorers RankPlayerTeamGoals1 Julián Alvarez Manchester City2 Karim Benzema Al-Ittihad Ali Maâloul Al Ahly4 Jhon Arias Fluminense1 Emam Ashour Al Ahly Bernardo Silva Manchester City Hussein El Shahat Al Ahly Phil Foden Manchester City Yasser Ibrahim Al Ahly José Kanté Urawa Red Diamonds N'Golo Kanté Al-Ittihad John Kennedy Fluminense Mateo Kovačić Manchester City Romarinho Al-Ittihad Alex Schalk Urawa Red Diamonds Alexander Scholz Urawa Red Diamonds Percy Tau Al Ahly
1 own goal Marius Høibråten (Urawa Red Diamonds, against Manchester City) Yoshio Koizumi (Urawa Red Diamonds, against Al Ahly) Nino (Fluminense, against Manchester City)
Awards
The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament. Rodri of Manchester City won the Golden Ball award.
Golden BallSilver BallBronze Ball Rodri(Manchester City) Kyle Walker(Manchester City) Jhon Arias(Fluminense)FIFA Fair Play Award Al-Ittihad FIFA also named a man of the match for the best player in each game at the tournament.
+ Man of the Match Match Man of the match Club Opponent 1 N'Golo Kanté Al-Ittihad Auckland City2 Marwan Attia Al Ahly Al-Ittihad3 Yoshio Koizumi Urawa Red Diamonds León4 André Fluminense Al Ahly5 Rodri Manchester City Urawa Red Diamonds 6 Emam Ashour Al Ahly Urawa Red Diamonds 7 Julián Alvarez Manchester City Fluminense
Sponsorship
Presenting Partner
Visit Saudi
FIFA Partners
Adidas Coca-Cola Qatar Airways Visa Wanda Group
Tournament Supporters
Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group Jahez Jeddah Central Jeddah Historic District Neom
References
External links