World football governing body, FIFA has unveiled the emblem for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup tournament in Morocco.
The emblem, which depicts the several continents represented in the competition, is inspired by the gleaming trophy that is raised by the best club team in the globe.
The tournament that is competed for by seven clubs, including the winners of the six continental confederations as well as the host nation’s league champions, will be held for the third time in the North African nation after back-to-back hosting duties in 2013 and 2014.
The reigning CAF Champions League and Moroccan top flight champions, Wydad AC, will be appearing for the second time in the competition since their debut in 2017.
Al-Hilal, the 2021 Asian Football Confederation Champions League winners, will make history by becoming the first AFC team to feature in three editions of the tournament.
Africa’s most successful club side, Al Ahly, holds the record for the most matches played at the tournament, with 18 games across seven precious appearances.
They gained a spot as runners-up in the CAF Champions League, seeing that Morocco is the host nation.
The Seattle Sounders of Major League Soccer qualified as the winners of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League and are also making history as the first club from the United States to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Seven-time Brazil Serie A winners Flamengo gained participation as winners of the CONMEBOL Libertadores 2022 after defeating Athletico Paranaense 1-0 in the Copa Libertadores final.
New Zealand club Auckland City are representing the Oceania Football Confederation as winners of the 2022 OFC Champions League, and they hold the record for most tournament appearances, with this being their tenth.
Lastly, the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid are the most successful club in the history of the FIFA Club World Cup, with four titles.
The 14-time UEFA Champions League winners enjoyed their first victory of the rebranded tournament in 2014, with Morocco as the host nation.
Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kross will look to increase his lead at the top as the player with the highest number of FIFA Club World Cup titles to six. He currently has five medals, four with Los Blancos and one with Bayern Munich.
The competition will be held from February 1 to 11, with the official draw set to take place at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Morocco’s capital city of Rabat later today.
Morocco’s most-capped international, Noureddine Naybet, will be a part of the draws as a draw assistant.
