Real Madrid is set to meet the winner of the match between Seattle Sounders and Al Ahly vs Auckland City in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup, scheduled to take place in Morocco from February 1 to February 11. The opening fixture of the tournament will be held at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, as determined by the draw conducted on a Friday in Morocco’s capital. The white squad will begin their campaign without knowing their exact semi-final opponent until the second round climaxes on February 4, when the remaining quarterfinals are decided. The team that advances from the Seattle versus Al Ahly/Auckland City tie will secure a berth in the final, while Real Madrid’s first possible match in the event is slated for February 1 in the opening game of this edition of the mundialito.
Al Ahly, Egypt’s storied club, stands as the most successful team in African football history with a remarkable record in the FIFA Club World Cup and a staggering resume of ten Champions League triumphs. Two years ago, they claimed third place by defeating Palmeiras on penalties in the third-place playoff, a moment that underscored their enduring competitiveness on the world stage. These credentials make them a formidable opponent, should they reach the semi-finals, and add to the tournament’s rich mix of continental powerhouses and rising clubs.
The opening clash would pair Africa’s champions with New Zealand’s Auckland City, a club that has dominated the Oceania region with ten titles to date. In their latest continental campaign, Auckland City captured the Oceania crown by defeating Venus of French Polynesia 3-0 in the final. This marks their tenth appearance in the Club World Cup, with their best finish coming in third place in 2014, a reminder of the club’s long-running consistency on this global stage.
Real Madrid’s path to the semi-finals could feature a second-round showdown against the Seattle Sounders, the CONCACAF champions and the first American team to participate in the Club World Cup. The Sounders will enter the tournament in the second round, advancing directly to the later stage and bringing North American credentials into the knockout rounds. Their participation adds another layer of intrigue to the tournament as the only team from their confederation to reach this point in the competition’s current format.
This bracket also includes a climactic pairing on the other side: Wydad Casablanca meeting Al Hilal. The Moroccan club earned their spot by defeating Al Ahly in the most recent edition of Africa’s premier club championship, the CAF Champions League, in a run that highlighted their domestic strength and continental pedigree. Al Hilal, as the champion of the 2021 Asian Champions League, represents Asia in this year’s tournament, given that this year’s continental champion has not yet been decided at the time of the draw.
The winner of the Wydad vs Al Hilal match would then face the Libertadores champion from South America in the other semi-final. The Brazilian side, led by a mix of stars including players such as Arturo Vidal, David Luiz, Filipe Luis, and the celebrated forward Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa, is widely regarded as one of the strongest obstacles for Real Madrid in this stage. This team has a storied history, having also appeared in the Intercontinental Cup in 1981 where they defeated Liverpool 3-0 in Japan, adding to the tournament’s enduring lore. Real Madrid’s possible opponents in this context promise a high-caliber test and a reminder of the global reach of the club world competition.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino emphasized the significance of this edition, noting that it will reveal the world’s best club champion and celebrate the teams that earned their spots by winning their respective continental competitions. He added that the tournament would showcase football’s global center as the action unfolds over the next 19 days, underscoring the event’s prestige and the strength of the participating sides across continents. With the field taking shape, fans can anticipate a tournament that blends historical rivalries, emerging talents, and dramatic knockout drama as the campaign to crown the world’s top club intensifies.