The FIFA Club World Cup is gearing up for its grandest showdown in Morocco from February 1 to 11, with seven top club teams competing for the coveted title of world champion. The participants consist of the reigning champions of each region of the world, plus an extra slot that was initially reserved for the host nation. However, this spot was reassigned after Morocco’s own champion team Wydad Casablanca also claimed the African championship title.
On January 13, the 2023 tournament draw was conducted (streamed live on FIFA+) and the seven teams learned their journey towards the world championship. This 2023 edition marks the final one under the current format, paving the way for a new and expanded version in June 2025.
Morocco is hosting the Club World Cup for the first time since 2014 and was chosen as the 2023 host only two months prior to the tournament. The matches will be played in two cities: Tangier (Stade Ibn Batouta) and Rabat (Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium).
Only seven knockout matches will be played to determine the successor of the 2022 champions, Chelsea. In case of a draw after regulation, extra time and penalties (if necessary) will be utilized to determine a winner, excluding the third-place match which will go straight to penalties. Get ready for a thrilling tournament as the world’s best clubs battle it out for the ultimate title.Top of Form
2023 FIFA Club World Cup match schedule
| Date | Round | Match |
| Wed, Feb. 1 | 1st Rd | Al Ahly vs. Auckland City |
| Sat, Feb. 4 | 2nd Rd | Seattle Sounders vs. Al Ahly/Auckland |
| Sat, Feb. 4 | 2nd Rd | Wydad Casablanca vs. Al Hilal |
| Tue, Feb. 7 | Semi | Flamengo vs. Wydad/Al Hilal |
| Wed, Feb. 8 | Semi | Seattle/Al Ahly/Auckland vs. Real Madrid |
| Sat, Feb. 11 | 3rd Place | Semifinal 1 loser vs. Semifinal 2 loser |
| Sat, Feb. 11 | Final | Semifinal 1 winner vs. Semifinal 2 winner |
Teams in 2023 FIFA Club World Cup
The 2023 tournament is set to feature seven clubs from different parts of the world. These clubs have been chosen as the champions of their respective continents and an extra spot was reserved for the host nation’s champion. However, this spot has been reassigned due to some changes.
Wydad Casablanca, the champions of Morocco, were initially set to participate as the host nation’s representative. But they also won the African Champions League, securing their place in the FIFA Club World Cup as African champions. This meant that their position as the host nation’s representative had to be passed on to the runners-up of the African Champions League, Al Ahly of Egypt.
| Region | Club | How Qualified |
| Africa | Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) | CAF Champions League winners |
| Africa | Al Ahly (Egypt) | CAF Champions League runners-up
(Assigned host nation berth) |
| Asia | Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) | AFC Champions League winners |
| Europe | Real Madrid (Spain) | UEFA Champions League winners |
| N. America | Seattle Sounders (USA) | CONCACAF Champions League winners |
| Oceania | Auckland City (New Zealand) | OFC Champions League |
| S. America | Flamengo (Brazil) | CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores winners |
2023 FIFA Club World Cup fixtures schedule
| Date | Round | Match | Time (GMT / ET) | |
| Wed, Feb. 1 | 1st Rd | Al Ahly vs. Auckland City | 19:00 / 14:00 | |
| Date | Round | Match | Time (GMT / ET) | |
| Sat, Feb. 4 | 2nd Rd | Wydad Casablanca vs. Al Hilal | 14:30 / 09:30 | |
| Sat, Feb. 4 | 2nd Rd | Seattle Sounders vs. Al Ahly/Auckland City | 17:30 / 12:30 |
| Date | Round | Match | Time (GMT / ET) |
| Tue, Feb. 7 | Semifinal | Flamengo vs. Wydad/Al Hilal | 19:00 / 14:00 |
| Wed, Feb. 8 | Semifinal | Seattle/Al Ahly/Auckland vs. Real Madrid | 19:00 / 14:00 |
| Date | Round | Match | Time (GMT / ET) |
| Sat, Feb. 11 | 3rd Place | Semi 1 loser vs. Semi 2 loser | 15:30 / 10:30 |
| Date | Round | Match | Time (GMT / ET) |
| Sat, Feb. 11 | Final | Semi 1 winner vs. Semi 2 winner | 19:00 / 14:00 |
FIFA Club World Cup champions all-time
Between the years 1960 to 2004, the best club teams from Europe and South America went head-to-head in a single match competition called the Intercontinental Cup. This event was widely recognized as the ultimate showdown to determine the world’s best club team. Out of the 43 editions held, 21 times a European club emerged victorious, while South American clubs claimed the title 22 times.
However, in 2000, FIFA decided to expand the competition and include clubs from other continents, resulting in the creation of the FIFA Club World Cup. After a hiatus due to the collapse of FIFA’s marketing partner, the tournament was resumed in 2005 and officially replaced the Intercontinental Cup.
Since the current format of the FIFA Club World Cup was introduced, Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid has claimed the trophy a record four times, and they aim to add a fifth victory in 2023. Below is a complete list of all the winners and runners-up of the FIFA Club World Cup since 2000.
FIFA Club World Cup winners all-time
| Year | Host | Winner | Score | Runner-Up |
| 2000 | Brazil | Corinthians | 0-0
(4-3 PKs) |
Vasco da Gama |
| 2005 | Japan | Sao Paulo | 1-0 | Liverpool |
| 2006 | Japan | Internacional | 1-0 | Barcelona |
| 2007 | Japan | AC Milan | 4-2 | Boca Juniors |
| 2008 | Japan | Man United | 1-0 | LDU Quito |
| 2009 | UAE | Barcelona | 2-1
(a.e.t.) |
Estudiantes |
| 2010 | UAE | Inter Milan | 3-0 | TP Mazembe |
| 2011 | Japan | Barcelona | 4-0 | Santos |
| 2012 | Japan | Corinthians | 1-0 | Chelsea |
| 2013 | Morocco | Bayern Munich | 2-0 | Raja Casablanca |
| 2014 | Morocco | Real Madrid | 2-0 | San Lorenzo |
| 2015 | Japan | Barcelona | 3-0 | River Plate |
| 2016 | Japan | Real Madrid | 4-2
(a.e.t.) |
Kashima Antlers |
| 2017 | UAE | Real Madrid | 1-0 | Gremio |
| 2018 | UAE | Real Madrid | 4-1 | Al-Ain |
| 2019 | Qatar | Liverpool | 1-0
(a.e.t.) |
Flamengo |
| 2020 | Qatar | Bayern Munich | 1-0 | Tigres UANL |
| 2022 | UAE | Chelsea | 2-1
(a.e.t.) |
Palmeiras |
