Saudi Arabian City Jeddah To Host FIFA Club World Cup 2023

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) and FIFA have jointly announced that Jeddah will serve as the host city for the FIFA Club World Cup 2023. This is the first time that Saudi Arabia will host the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup.

This decision comes after a FIFA delegation visited Jeddah to assess the preparations for the tournament, which is scheduled to take place from December 12 to December 22 of this year. 

Yasser Al Misehal, the president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, expressed his delight at Jeddah being selected as the host city. 

He emphasized that sport plays a crucial role in Saudi Arabia’s ongoing transformation under Vision 2030, which aims to establish the Kingdom as a prominent global sporting destination. 

Al Misehal believes that hosting international events such as the FIFA Club World Cup will not only expand the popularity of football but also showcase Saudi Arabia’s hospitable culture and the nation’s profound passion for the sport.

During the FIFA delegation’s visit, comprehensive inspections were conducted on key infrastructure, including the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium and the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium. Proposed training and accommodation facilities were also assessed. 

Jeddah has a track record of successfully hosting major international sporting events, such as –

• Spanish and Italian Super Cups, 
• F1 stc Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, 
• World Heavyweight Championship Boxing, 

and various other championships in handball, basketball, and weightlifting.

The 2023 Club World Cup will take place in Jeddah, the home city of Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad. Notably, Al-Ittihad recently signed Karim Benzema, who will compete in the tournament. 

The event will feature the participation of six continental club champions, including Manchester City, the winner of the UEFA Champions League. 

This edition of the tournament will be the last in its current format before it expands to a 32-team competition in 2025 in the United States.

Matches in the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup will be played at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, which have seating capacities of approximately 62,000 and 27,000, respectively. 

Al-Ittihad started off the tournament with a first-round match against Auckland City, the Oceania champion, with the winner advancing to the second round. 

The tournament will culminate with the participation of Manchester City and the South American champion at the semifinal stage.

Saudi Arabia is attempting to become a prominent player nation in international sports. The country has made a successful bid to host the 2023 Club World Cup.

Saudi Arabia is also attempting to win in the bidding of hosting the Asian Cup in 2027 as well as Men’s FIFA World Cup in 2034.