Pep Guardiola’s team face the Brazilian outfit in the global showpiece at 18:00 (UK) on Friday 22 December at Kind Abdullah Sports City.
The Treble winners booked our place in the final thanks to a fine 3-0 win over Urawa Red Diamonds in the semi-final thanks to a Marius Hoibraten own goal and further strikes from Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva.
Meanwhile, Fernando Diniz’s secured passage after a 2-0 win against Al Ahly.
Every match at the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup is available to watch in the UK on TNT Sports and FIFA+.
For fans outside of the UK, click here to find out how you can watch the matches in Saudi Arabia.
The official Man City app will also have free live radio commentary as part of our usual Matchday Live show that includes studio guests previewing and analysing the action.
Ahead of playing one of the giants of Japanese football on Tuesday, we look at some of the connections between our club and the special country many thousands of miles away.
SAMBA BOYS
A swathe of Brazilians have represented City throughout the Club’s history.
Of course, our current goalkeeper is the outstanding Ederson - who has enjoyed an illustrious tenure with Pep Guardiola’s team and made 25 appearances for his national team.
Decorated former captain Fernandinho amassed 382 appearances in sky blue across a nine-year spell at the Etihad Stadium after making his debut against Newcastle in 2013.
In total, the combative midfielder won 12 major honours with the Club – including five Premier League titles.
Other names include Elano, Gabriel Jesus, Fernando and Maicon.
CHARLIE WILLIAMS
Former City goalkeeper Charlie Williams, who played for the Club between 1894 and 1902, managed Fluminense after finishing his playing career at Brentford and following his spell as Denmark head coach between 1908 and 1910.
Morten Olesen and Gary James have been fascinated by Williams’ career and recently Olesen wrote on Gary James’ Football Archive…
In 1911, almost 10 years after its founding, Fluminense were looking for their first coach.
Williams arrived with the ship Oropesa in Rio on March 16, 1911 and was presented as the Brazilian team’s first manager.
He had to both coach and take out teams. Until now, it had been a board that had been responsible for team selection – but now all responsibility rested with the former City goalkeeper and Danish national coach.
Williams was described at the presentation as “The man who knows all the secrets and means of the violent sport”. In its own way, it tells a lot about the game of football in the early 1900s – as well as Williams’ methods as a coach.
But the methods worked. Williams led Fluminense to the Rio Championship (Campeonato Carioca) in his first season with six wins out of six possible – and a score of 21-1!
In the following season, things went less well.
Fluminense had to settle for a fifth place finish – but of course the pioneer Williams still had to write history.
He became the first victorious manager in the first Rio derby, Fluminense v Flamengo in everyday speech called the Fla-Flu derby.
A local showdown that would eventually become huge.
FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS
Exciting Brazilian forward Kayky joined City in April 2021 from our Club World Cup final opponents, Fluminense.
The skilful winger joined the Brazilian outfit at Under-9s level before making his debut for them at the age of 17.
In total, the 20-year-old totalled 33 appearances for Diniz’s team before switching to the Etihad Stadium – scoring three goals and registering two assists.
Kayky played 17 times for our Elite Development Squad in 2021/22, including 13 appearances in our title-winning Premier League 2 campaign where he netted six times and registered four assists.
The Brazilian made his senior City debut when coming from the bench in our 4-1 third round win at Swindon in January 2022 before making his Premier League bow in our 4-0 win over Norwich in February of the same year.
BAHIA
Bahia have been part of the City Football Group since May 2023 and they play in the blue, white and red of the Bahia State flag.
They are the most supported club in Northern Brazil and play at the 60,000 capacity Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova stadium, refurbished for the 2014 World Cup, and trains at the new Evaristo de Macedo facility.
In August 2023, the Etihad Stadium played host to ‘O dia da Bahia’ ahead of City’s Premier League meeting with Fulham.
The festivities celebrated Bahia’s unique identity and Brazilian superstars such as Carlinhos Brown performed.
