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Saudi Arabia Selected as Club World Cup 2023 Host

President of the Saudi Football Federation and FIFA member Yasser Al-Misehal during a virtual meeting with FIFA on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
President of the Saudi Football Federation and FIFA member Yasser Al-Misehal during a virtual meeting with FIFA on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Selected as Club World Cup 2023 Host

President of the Saudi Football Federation and FIFA member Yasser Al-Misehal during a virtual meeting with FIFA on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
President of the Saudi Football Federation and FIFA member Yasser Al-Misehal during a virtual meeting with FIFA on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has been selected to host the 2023 Club World Cup in December, FIFA announced on Tuesday.

The FIFA Council unanimously voted for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to stage the event, which includes the six continental champions plus the host's national champions.

The tournament will take place from Dec. 12-22.

Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz al-Faisal stated: “We are proud of hosting the event and welcome the strongest football teams in the world and their fans, both in the Kingdom and abroad.”

He added that Saudi Arabia’s continued hosting of global sports events is credited to the “unprecedented support from our wise leadership and the direct interest of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”

“Today, the Kingdom is taking a significant step forward in its transformation on the level of football. We trust that everyone will experience the progress that has been achieved in our nation on all levels,” he stressed.

President of the Saudi Football Federation and FIFA member Yasser Al-Misehal said: “Saudi football is witnessing unprecedented growth and has become the focus of the world in credit to our wise leadership and great support from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”

He thanked FIFA for the opportunity for Saudi Arabia to stage the Club World Cup, pledging to deliver an “exceptional” edition of the tournament.

Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia was selected by the Asian Football Confederation to host the 2027 Asian Cup.

The country has previously hosted sporting events including this year's Spanish Super Cup, 2022's world title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua and the Riyadh Grand Prix.

The FIFA Council meeting also confirmed changes to the structure of the Club World Cup, with approval for an expanded 32-team tournament from 2025.

UEFA will have 12 places and CONMEBOL six, while CONCACAF, CAF and the AFC will each have four, with one place for the OFC and another for the hosts.

The FIFA meeting also confirmed that the United States, Mexico and Canada will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup as joint-hosts of the tournament, with their places being deducted from CONCACAF's overall allocation of six.

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Dembélé Scores 2 and Donnarumma Injured as PSG Beats Monaco to Increase French League Lead

Paris Saint-Germain's Portuguese forward #09 Goncalo Ramos (C) celebrates scoring his team's third goal with Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele (R) and Paris Saint-Germain's South Korean midfielder #19 Lee Kang-in during the French L1 football match between AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain at the Louis II Stadium (Stade Louis II) in the Principality of Monaco on December 18, 2024. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Portuguese forward #09 Goncalo Ramos (C) celebrates scoring his team's third goal with Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele (R) and Paris Saint-Germain's South Korean midfielder #19 Lee Kang-in during the French L1 football match between AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain at the Louis II Stadium (Stade Louis II) in the Principality of Monaco on December 18, 2024. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)
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Dembélé Scores 2 and Donnarumma Injured as PSG Beats Monaco to Increase French League Lead

Paris Saint-Germain's Portuguese forward #09 Goncalo Ramos (C) celebrates scoring his team's third goal with Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele (R) and Paris Saint-Germain's South Korean midfielder #19 Lee Kang-in during the French L1 football match between AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain at the Louis II Stadium (Stade Louis II) in the Principality of Monaco on December 18, 2024. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Portuguese forward #09 Goncalo Ramos (C) celebrates scoring his team's third goal with Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele (R) and Paris Saint-Germain's South Korean midfielder #19 Lee Kang-in during the French L1 football match between AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain at the Louis II Stadium (Stade Louis II) in the Principality of Monaco on December 18, 2024. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)

Runaway leader Paris Saint-Germain opened a 10-point lead at the top of the French league standings before the year-end break with a 4-2 defeat of Monaco on Wednesday in a match marred by Gianluigi Donnarumma's injury.
Ousmane Dembélé scored a brace and striker Goncalo Ramos put PSG back in the lead with seven minutes left as he headed in a corner after coming in as a substitute in the lively encounter at the Stade Louis II, The Associated Press reported.
Monaco remained in third place, level on points with second-place Marseille, which has one match in hand.
Donnarumma’s face was bloodied after being hit by an opponent’s cleat. The Italy international took the studs of Wilfried Singo’s cleat in the 17th minute. Singo, whose shot had been blocked, tried to jump over the sliding Donnarumma but instead struck his face.
Pictures showed that Donnarumma was cut below his right eye. Singo, who had already been warned, was lucky to avoid a red card.
Donnarumma was left lying on the pitch while receiving treatment. He finally stood up and walked away to be replaced by Matvey Safonov.
Désiré Doué had put PSG in front in the first half before Eliesse Ben Seghir leveled from the penalty spot after the interval and Breel Embolo gave Monaco the lead at the hour mark.
Dembélé then scored his first goal of the evening from a rebound in the 64th minute. He added more luster to PSG's win deep in stoppage time when he completed his brace.
The match was brought forward because of a scheduling conflict with the Trophée des Champions between the two clubs on Jan. 5 in Doha during the weekend that the French league resumes.