Saudi Arabia: Middle East Nation to host 2023 World Club Cup

• Saudi Arabia will host the 2023 World Club Cup, FIFA said on Tuesday.
• Saudi club Al-Hilal reached the final of the 2022 edition in Morocco last week.
• The seven-team event will take place on December 12-22

Saudi Arabia will host its first major FIFA event this year, after being selected to put on the 2023 Club World Cup in December.

The Middle East state was unanimously selected by the FIFA Council.

They are currently preparing a bid to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Egypt and Greece, having seen neighbours Qatar host last year's tournament.

“We are honoured and extremely excited to be given the opportunity to welcome the world’s leading football clubs and their fans to Saudi Arabia,” Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal said, via BBC.

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The seven-team event will run from December 12.

As with previous editions, the Champions League winners and the South American champions will only enter at the semi-final stage.

Madrid win Club World Cup

Real Madrid were crowned champions of the Club World Cup for a record fifth time after beating Al Hilal 5-3 on Saturday in Morocco, Sports Brief reported.

Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde struck twice each, while Karim Benzema scored on his return from injury in Madrid's spectacular victory over the Saudi Arabians.

Madrid's emphatic triumph at Rabat's Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium secured their second piece of silverware this season, after winning last year's European Super Cup.

Madrid fans taunt Vidal

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Supporters of Real Madrid made a mockery of Flamengo midfielder, Arturo Vidal after the Spanish giants clinched a record-extending fifth Club World Cup title.

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Vidal, who previously played for Barcelona, taunted the La Liga giants over a potential showdown in the competition's final.

However, his dream did not materialise as Flamengo stumbled to a shock 3-2 loss to Asian champions, Al-Hilal in the semi-finals.