Dubai 28 May 2018: With Europe once again under their rule, Real Madrid C. F. can nowstart planning to extend their domination of world football for the third straight year at theFIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018 this December.
Real Madrid C. F, nicknamed Los Blancos, sealed a historic hat-trick of UEFA ChampionsLeague titles with a dramatic 3-1 victory over English side Liverpool F.C. in a pulsating encounter in Kiev on Saturday night. That triumph, their 13th European Cup success, secured a return to Abu Dhabi and the European champions are hot favourites to be crowned the planet’s best club side for a third-straight year.
The Spanish giants, coached by Zinedine Zidane, beat home side Kashima Antlers 4-2 in the FIFA Club World Cup 2016 final in Japan, before holding off Brazil’s Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense 1-0 in front a fanatical crowd of 41,094 at Zayed Sports City in the UAE capital last December.
The Spanish club are now expected to be roared on by a strong following when they return to the UAE for the 2018 tournament, which takes place in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain from 12 – 22 December.“The European entrant is always a huge draw for the FIFA Club World Cup and football clubs don’t come any bigger than Real Madrid C. F.
Europe has a long and successful history in this tournament, providing 10 of the 14 winners to date. We saw the level of support RealMadrid C. F. attracted last year – the club has a huge fanbase in the UAE and the wider region, so we can expect strong support for Los Blancos again in December,” said His Excellency Aref Al Awani, Tournament Director of the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018Local Organising Committee.FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018 – UEFA Champions League 1
“The unique appeal of this tournament enables fans to get up close to their heroes andexperience their favourite team in a world-class live match experience, perhaps for the first and only time – that is the beauty of the FIFA Club World Cup. Congratulations to RealMadrid C. F. on their third UEFA Champions League in a row and we look forward towelcoming the team, manager, club officials and fans back to Abu Dhabi in December.”
Real Madrid C. F. are the fourth team confirmed for the FIFA Club World Cup 2018 after anenthralling UEFA Champions League final in Kiev. Gareth Bale’s stunning overhead kick and the Welshman’s speculative shot from 30 yards, which bamboozled Loris Karius in theLiverpool goal, going through the goalkeeper’s hands, helped Zinedine Zidane’s men seal a3-1 victory.
Karim Benzema’s fortunate opening goal for Real Madrid C. F, when he stuck out a boot to divert Karius’ attempted throw-out into the Liverpool net, had been cancelled out by Sadio Mane, before Bale stole the show. Real Madrid C. F. now join Mexico’s C. D. Guadalajara (CONCACAF), New Zealand’s TeamWellington (Oceania) and host team Al Ain FC for the Official Draw.
The European champions will join the tournament at the semi-final stage. The FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018 will feature eight competitive matches contested by six continental champions, from Europe (UEFA), Africa (CAF), Asia (AFC), North and Central(CONCACAF), Oceania (OFC) and South America (CONMEBOL), as well as the host teamAl Ain FC.
The teams will play across two stadia – Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and HazzaBin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain – from 12 – 22 December
