The FIFA Club World Cup is scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia starting in December, as the country has been selected as the host nation for the upcoming edition of the football tournament.
The intercontinental tournament, which will take place between December 12 and 22, is another important global sporting event that will be held in Saudi Arabia. This event will also help to increase the growth of men’s and women’s football at all levels within the country.
During a FIFA Council meeting on Tuesday, it was announced that Saudi Arabia will be the host country for the FIFA Club World Cup. This decision was made shortly after Al-Hilal, a Saudi Arabian football club, competed against Real Madrid in the final of the AFC Champions League, becoming the first Saudi club to reach the final of the tournament.
Since the FIFA Club World Cup started in 2000, Saudi Arabia will only be the sixth country to host the competition.
Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal said: “We are honored and extremely excited to be given the opportunity to welcome the world’s leading football clubs and their fans to Saudi Arabia.
“Many fans will have recently witnessed our ability as a nation to compete at the highest possible level on the pitch. Now we have the chance to prove we are also world-class hosts off it. We look forward to showcasing our genuine love of the game and our desire to be a force for good.”
Sports involvement has significantly increased in Saudi Arabia across all levels, with over 200,000 girls participating in sports on a weekly basis, and 50,000 of them competing in the inaugural Schools League.