Auckland City will face either Egyptian champions Al Ahly or UAE powerhouse Al Ain in the opening game of FIFA’s new intercontinental champions competition.
Egyptian champions Al Ahly have become the third side to book their spot in the maiden Coupe Intercontinentale de la FIFA (FIFA Intercontinental Cup), following the successful qualification of Auckland City and Al Ain.
The three clubs all won their regional Champions League competitions, winning finals played over the weekend of May 25-26, 2024 (NZT).
The new annual tournament will feature the champion side from each premier club competition across FIFA’s six confederations.
The inaugural edition will conclude with the final in December, at a neutral venue yet to be announced.
The tournament structure means Auckland City will initially play either the AFC Champions League winners (Al Ain) or the CAF Champions League victors (Al Ahly) at their home stadium.
Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly became the tournament’s third confirmed participant after a 1-0 win over Tunisian outfit ES Tunis in the CAF Champions League final at Cairo International Stadium.
Main photo: Al Ahly’s celebrations begin after their success at the CAF Champions League in Cairo. Photo credit: FIFA.
Al Ahly, who have now taken their continental trophy tally to a record-extending 12, hit the front inside just four minutes when Ramy Rabia’s header ricocheted off Roger Aholou and trickled into the net.
Earlier, 14-time United Arab Emirates Pro League champions Al Ain overran Japan’s Yokohama FM 5-1 to claim their berth at the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
Auckland City’s place at the new tournament was clinched with their 12th success at the OFC Men’s Champions League in Tahiti where they beat local club AS Pirae 4-0 in the final.
Results
Game played on Saturday May 25, 2024
OFC Champions League final
Auckland City 4 (Michael Den Heijer 6’, Liam Gillion 30’, Stipe Ukich 48’, Christian Gray 59′)
AS Pirae 0
READ MORE: Auckland City crowned OFC Champions for 12th time after win in Tahiti >>>>
Games played on Sunday May 26, 2024 (NZT)
CAF Champions League final
Al Ahly 1 (own goal 4′)
ES Tunis 0
AFC Champions League final
Al Ain 5 (Soufiane Rahimi 8′, 67′, Alejandro Romero 33′ pen, Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba 90+1′, 90+5′)
Yokohama FM 1 (Yan Matheus 40′)
How the Coupe Intercontinentale de la FIFA (Intercontinental Cup) works
Stage A
This stage of the competition will have two rounds. In the first round, the winners of the AFC Champions League (Al Ain) or the CAF Champions League (Al Ahly), to be initially determined by a draw and alternating each year thereafter, will play in their home stadium against the winners of the OFC Champions League (Auckland City).
The winners of this round will then play away against the remaining AFC or CAF champions.
Stage B
The winners of the Concacaf Champions Cup will play the winners of the CONMEBOL Libertadores in the home stadium of one of the clubs, with the hosts of the first edition to be determined by a draw and the hosting rights alternating each year thereafter.
Play-off
The winners of both previous stages will play each other at a neutral venue on December 14, 2024.
Final
The winners of the play-off will play the winners of the UEFA Champions League at the same neutral venue on December 18, 2024, with the winners being crowned as champions for that year.
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