Real Madrid automatically qualify for the final of the first annual FIFA Intercontinental Cup, which will be played in December in Doha, Qatar.
Champions League winners Real Madrid will play in Qatar for the final of the inaugural FIFA Intercontinental Cup, the governing body of world football has announced.
The competition, for club teams from around the world, will feature five matches, culminating in the final on December 18, to which the Spanish giants automatically qualify.
The day of the final is also celebrated as Qatar National Day and also marks the second anniversary of the 2022 World Cup final, where Argentina beat France.
The tournament, which was announced in December last year, replaces the annual Club World Cup which will now be played every four years with 32 teams from 2025.
“The opportunity to host another prestigious football tournament is a testament to Qatar’s ability to deliver world-class sporting events,” Minister of Youth and Sports Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani said in a statement.
“Two years on from the biggest FIFA World Cup in history, we are proud to host the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup. We look forward to welcoming some of the world’s best players for another great event that showcases the legacy of 2022.”
Real Madrid will lead the list of Champions League world champions
ACL champions Al Ain will first host Oceania Champions League champions Auckland City on 22 September in the Africa-Asia-Pacific Cup playoff, with the winners set to face African Champions League champions Al Ahly in Cairo on 29 October.
The first two matches will be played at the home of the higher-division team, allowing locals to watch their club play.
The action then shifts to Doha, Qatar, where the winners of the 2024 South American Libertadores will play Mexican side Pachuca, the winners of the CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean) Champions' Cup, on December 11, a match described by FIFA as the “Derby of the Americas.”
The winners of these two matches will face each other in the Challenger Cup three days later to earn a place in the Intercontinental Cup final against Real Madrid on December 18.
