FIFA Club World Cup: Tournament fixtures announced, Real Madrid to start their campaign on December 15

Real Madrid
Real Madrid won the Champions League after trumping Atletico in the final

Real Madrid will play the FIFA Club World Cup in December which is a competition played between the champions of each continental confederation. Madrid earned the opportunity to play in the Club World Cup after they won the 2015-16 UEFA Champions League by beating Atletico Madrid in the Finals to achieve La Undecima, their eleventh continental title.

Seven teams will participate in this year’s FIFA Club World Cup which will take place in Japan. Atletico National, Club America, Real Madrid and Auckland City have already been confirmed as the participating clubs with the winners of the AFC Champions League, CAF Champions League and the J-League yet to be decided.

Real Madrid will directly play in the Semi Finals of the competition on 15 December 2015 in Yokohama. They’ll face the winner between the Winner of the AFC Champions League and Club America.

The Final is scheduled on 18 December 2016 in Yokohama.

Al-Ain, Qatari club El Jaish, or Korean sides FC Seoul or Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are the clubs in the race to win the AFC Champions League. Auckland City will face the J-League champions in a preliminary round before taking on the African Champions League winners, with the winner of the match facing Atletico Nacional in the last-four.

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One of four clubs in Zamalek from Egypt, Wydad Casablanca from Morocco, ZESCO United from Zambia and Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa will claim the CAF Champions League.

Real’s road to Club World Cup

Real Madrid won their eleventh European title and narrowly missed out on the La Liga last season. They overcame Roma, Wolfsburg and Manchester City in the Round of 16, Quarter Finals and Semi Finals respectively. They faced Atletico Madrid in the Final for the second time in three years.

A first half goal by Sergio Ramos was neutralised by Yannick Carrasco after Antoine Griezmann missed a penalty for Los Rojiblancos. After 120 minutes, no team could find a winner and Cristiano Ronaldo won the trophy for the whites after Juanfran missed the fourth penalty for Atletico Madrid.

Zinedine Zidane will hope to add the Club World Cup to his CV after winning the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla this season.

Real Madrid had won the Club World Cup in 2014 after defeating San Lorenzo 2-0 in the Final with Sergio Ramos and Gareth Bale scoring in each half. They are the favourites to win this time around as well with Zinedine Zidane aiming to capture every trophy this season.

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Edited by Staff Editor