Real Madrid could face Sounders in the Club World Cup

In this Wednesday, January 11, 2023 photo, Real Madrid’s Eder Militao and Karim Benzema celebrate after scoring a goal in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Valencia in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Champions League champion Real Madrid could face Seattle Sounders, the first American team to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup, in the next edition of the tournament to be held in February in Morocco.

FIFA held the draw on Friday for the Club World Cup, which was pushed back to 2023 from its traditional December date due to the World Cup that ended last month in Qatar.

Madrid awaits in the semifinals the winner of the second round matchup between CONCACAF Champions League champion Seattle and either Egypt’s Al Ahly or New Zealand’s Auckland City. Al Ahly and Auckland City kick off the tournament in the first round on February 1.

Flamengo, champion of the Copa Libertadores, awaits in the other semifinal the winner of the duel between the African champion Wydad Casablanca or Al Hilal.

The Club World Cup usually brings together the six continental champions and the winner of the domestic league title from the host country. However, Moroccan league champions Wydad also won the 2022 African Champions League title. The second African ticket went to finalist Al Ahly.

Al Halil won the 2021 Asian Champions League and played in the Club World Cup last February losing to eventual champions Chelsea in the semifinals. But they re-proposed the team for this edition because the 2022 Asian champion will not be decided until May.

Morocco will host the Club World Cup in Tangier and Rabat, which will hold the final on February 11.

FIFA awarded the tournament to Morocco last month after becoming the first African country to reach the semifinals of the World Cup.

Morocco lost the campaign for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada. It could still win the 2030 World Cup — either alone or in conjunction with Spain and Portugal. Both teams lost to Morocco in Qatar.

“It is also an opportunity to express the desire of the people and of our kingdom to be among those who receive the great football events,” said the president of the Moroccan Football Federation Fouzi Lekjaa.

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