Man City learn Club World Cup opponents
- Man City will take on either Club Leon or Urawa Reds in their first game
- The tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia in December
- Al Ittihad among potential opponents
By Tom Gott
Manchester City will begin their FIFA Club World Cup campaign against either Mexico's Club Leon or Japan's Urawa Reds in the 2023 edition of the tournament this winter.
UEFA Champions League winners City are making their first appearance and begin their campaign in the semi-final, meaning they must win just two matches to add yet another trophy to their cabinet.
Before City arrive for the tournament, which will be held in Saudi Arabia between 12-22 December, clubs from Oceania, Africa, Asia and North America will be battling to make it to the final four, with Club Leon and Urawa Reds the two sides drawn in City's side of the bracket.
Leon finished tenth in Mexico's top flight last season but qualified after winning the CONCACAF Champions League, while Urawa Reds are the reigning AFC Champions League holders.
Should City emerge victorious from their semi-final, they will face either Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad, Egypt's Al Ahly, Australia's Auckland City or the yet to be decided winners of the 2023 Copa Libertadores - one of Boca Juniors, Palmeiras, Fluminense or Internacional.
READ THE LATEST MAN CITY NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
feed
Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad qualified as the winners of the host country's top division, sealing their spot before what has been a hectic summer transfer window for Nuno Espirito Santo's side.
Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and Fabinho were the three blockbuster additions to Al Ittihad, and all three have won this tournament in the past.
City manager Pep Guardiola has plenty of experience in this competition and has lifted the trophy no fewer than three times with his former clubs.
Guardiola's Barcelona emerged as victors in both 2009 and 2011, before his Bayern Munich side secured the gold in 2013. He now has the opportunity to add City to the famous list of global winners.
LISTEN NOW TO 90MIN'S TALKING TRANSFERS PODCAST
On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders is joined by Toby Cudworth, Graeme Bailey and Sean Walsh to discuss the deals that did and didn't happen on deadline day. They talk over Ryan Gravenberch's move to Liverpool, why Joao Palhinha didn't join Bayern Munich, Sofyan Amrabat's loan to Man Utd and more.
If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!