São Paulo – Palmeiras, the Brazilian team that won the Libertadores Cup of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) this Saturday (27) and qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup, will face either Mexican team Monterrey, or Egyptian Al Ahly, in the semifinal of the tournament to be played from February 3 to 12 next year, in the United Arab Emirates. The Mexicans won the Champions League of the Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), while the Egyptians earned Africa’s most important trophy of the season, the Champions League of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The tournament draw was held this Monday (29) at the headquarters of the International Football Federation (FIFA) in Zurich, Switzerland. The dates, times, and locations of the matches are yet to be announced by the entity. Even though the tournament will occur in 2022, the winner will be considered the 2021 world champion.
Four more teams will participate in the Club World Cup. Al Jazira, representing the host country, the UAE, as the national champion of 2021, will open the tournament against Auckland City (New Zealand), appointed by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). The winner will face, in the quarterfinals, Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), who won the Champions League of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the main Asian club tournament. The winning team will face the predicted favorite Chelsea (England), victors of the Champions League of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), in the semifinals.
Palmeiras will play the Club World Cup for the third time. In February this year, for the 2020 edition of the tournament, held in Qatar, the Brazilian team fell in the semifinals to Tigres (Mexico), defeated 1-0. In the match for the third place, the opponent was Al Ahly, who may again encounter the team from São Paulo. After the scoreless draw in regular and additional time, the Egyptians won on penalty shootout.
Palmeiras seeks to become the seventh Brazilian team to take the world club title. Three-time champion São Paulo FC (1992, 1993, and 2005) is the biggest winner, followed by Santos (1962 and 1963) and Corinthians (2000 and 2012). Flamengo (1981), Grêmio (1983), and Internacional (2006) have also lifted the trophy.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
