We enter the competition at the semi-final stage, knowing that victory will take us straight to the final on 22 December.
Defeat in our final four clash with Urawa Red Diamonds would see us play in the third place play-off instead a few hours before the final happens.
Every match at the competition will be played in the city of Jeddah.
The second largest city in the country behind the capital, Riyadh, Jeddah is on the west coast of Saudi Arabia alongside the Red Sea.
It is the home of two of Saudi Arabia’s largest clubs. The current champions and one of the other sides involved at the Club World Cup, Al-Ittihad, play there as do Al-Ahli.
Here’s a little more about the two stadiums that are hosting matches during the upcoming tournament.
King Abdullah Sports City
Matches that will be played there
King Abdullah Sports City will host five of the seven matches in the competition, including both semi-finals and the final.
City will first be in the stadium for our semi-final against either Club Leon or Urawa Red Diamonds on 19 December. That match will kick off at 18:00 (UK).
The final will be at 18:00 (UK) on Friday 22 December.
Capacity
62,345. It is the biggest stadium in Jeddah, and the second biggest in Saudi Arabia, after Riyadh’s King Fahd Stadium.
Year opened
Nicknamed The Jewel, the stadium was opened in May 2014 for the final of that year’s King’s Cup.
Tenants and events
Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli both play there on occasion, although they also play at the city’s other main stadium – which will host two matches at this Club World Cup.
Saudi Arabia’s national side also play there when not hosting matches in Riyadh. It’s a successful ground for the side as well, winning all four of their World Cup qualifiers there since 2021.
Away from football, the stadium has hosted some of the biggest boxing bouts in recent years including Anthony Joshua’s clash with Oleksandr Usyk in August 2022.
In tennis, the Next Generation ATP Finals will be held there from 2023 to 2027.
Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium
Matches that will be played there
The Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium hosted the second round meeting between Leon and Urawa Red Diamonds at 14:30 (UK) on 15 December.
It will then also stage the match for third place at 14:30 (UK) on 22 December.
General information
The stadium’s capacity is approximately 27,000. Initially opened in 1970, it was closed for nine years between 2012 and 2021 as it underwent modernisation and maintenance. It is located in the south east of Jeddah near the King Abdulaziz University.
Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli still play home matches in the stadium, although they also play at the King Abdullah Sports City too depending on the status of the match. It was regularly used for Saudi Arabia national team matches until the King Abdullah Sports City was completed in 2014.
