Al Ain, winners of the Arabian Gulf League, will have an excellent opportunity to display their potential on the big stage.
Abu Dhabi - The UAE champions will play the winners of the OFC Champions League in the tournament's first match - a winner-takes-all qualifier for a quarterfinal place
Published: Wed 16 May 2018, 9:14 PM
Last updated: Wed 30 May 2018, 12:25 PM
Al Ain FC have been confirmed as the second qualifier for the Fifa Club World Cup UAE 2018, with the tournament's hosts determined to put on a show against the big names of world club football this December.
The recent Arabian Gulf League (AGL) champions, nicknamed 'The Boss', join North and Central American CONCACAF champions C D Guadalajara in securing their spot in Fifa's annual showcase to crown the best club side.
Al Ain and Guadalajara will be joined by the winners of the Oceania (OFC) Champions League, Uefa Champions League, African (CAF) Champions League, Asian (AFC) Champions League and South America's CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores in the tournament, which is being held in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain from Dec. 12-22. Managed by Croatia's Zoran Mamic, Al Ain completed a double this season for the first time in their history, adding the UAE President's Cup to their AGL title.
The UAE champions will play the winners of the OFC Champions League in the tournament's first match - a winner-takes-all qualifier for a quarterfinal place - on Dec. 12, at their own Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. Should Al Ain progress from the qualifier, continental heavyweights from either Africa or Asia await them in the quarterfinal.
Commenting on Al Ain's qualification for the competition, Aref Al Awani, Tournament Director of the Fifa Club World Cup UAE 2018 Local Organising Committee, said: "Al Ain are the most decorated club in the history of UAE football, with a large fan following who will bring their own special brand of support to the tournament. We welcome Al Ain to the tournament as they will be sure to play with great pride, passion and commitment."
"The Fifa Club World Cup UAE 2018 is the perfect opportunity for this talented team to show their quality against some of the world's best players on a global stage, as Al Jazira did last year.
"It is also a great chance for football fans from the UAE and overseas to see world-class football in the UAE. We wish our brothers well in December and we hope the whole country comes out to support them."
Come December, Al Ain will be aiming to replicate the stunning form of last year's UAE host team, Al Jazira, who safely navigated the qualifier and quarter-final before pushing eventual champions Real Madrid CF all the way in the semifinal in Abu Dhabi.
The third Fifa Club World Cup UAE 2018 qualifier will be decided on Sunday, May 20, when Fiji's Lautoka FC host New Zealand champions Team Wellington in the second leg of the OFC Champions League Final. Team Wellington won the first leg 6-0.
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