November 30 – FIFA has held the draw for the seven-team Club World Cup 2021 in the UAE that will open on February 3 with local team Al Jazira against the OFC’s Auckland City FC from New Zealand.
The winner of the opening game will go on to face AFC Champions League winner Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia in Round 2. That round will see Africa’s Champions League Al Ahly SC from Egypt face the winner of the Concacaf Champions League CF Monterrey from Mexico.
The big guns from South America and Europe enter at the next round with the winners of Al Ahly-Monterrey meeting Copa Libertadores champions Palmeiras from Brazil, with Premier League Chelsea meeting either Al Hilal, Auckland City or Al Jazira for a place in the final on February 12.
At the last finals Concacaf’s Tigres UANL were the first ever team from the confederation to make it to the final, but ended up losing to Bayern Munich.
The schedule in the UAE will impact Chelsea most as they will have to reschedule two Premier League fixtures and a possible fourth round FA Cup tie.
At the draw the competition emblem was also unveiled with the design described as bringing “together natural and cultural elements from the host association’s rich history. The warm multi-coloured hues of the desert and the sun and the lush shades of palm trees come together with historical inspirations from fishing, sailing and pearl diving to form the shape of the tournament’s iconic trophy. The ball crowning the top of the emblem contains elegant Arabic calligraphy meaning ‘emirates’.”
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