Match K.O. 13:00 ET Canada-USA | 20:00 Cairo local time
King Abdullah Sports City Stadium
2023 FIFA Club World Cup | Saudi Arabia
Al Ahly is set to face off against Al Ittihad at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in the upcoming second round of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, scheduled for Friday.
Securing a direct berth in the second round as the champions of the 2022-23 CAF Champions League, Al Ahly is making their ninth appearance at the Club World Cup. In the previous season, they concluded their campaign with a fourth-place finish.
On Tuesday, Al Ittihad secured their spot in the second round with a convincing 3-0 victory over Auckland City. Former Club World Cup champions Romarinho, N’Golo Kanté, and Karim Benzema showcased their seasoned skills by scoring within a span of just 11 minutes in the first half.
Meanwhile, Al Ahly enters the match with an unbeaten streak, having notched up eight consecutive games without a loss across all competitions. However, their last outing saw them settle for a goalless draw against Belouizdad in the CAF Champions League group stage last Friday.
Ittihad has experienced only one loss in their most recent seven matches. Additionally, they have emerged victorious in four out of their last five games, managing to score at least two goals in each of these triumphs.
Fun Facts:
By playing as many as 22 matches in the last eight appearances at the FIFA Club World Cup, the African and Egyptian champions stand out for playing the most matches in the tournament.
Ahly clinched the bronze medal three times (2006, 2020, and 2021) and aim to reach the semi-finals to match TP Mazembe and Raja’s feat.
Hussein El-Shahat, Ahly’s midfielder, has notably played the highest number of matches in the tournament, boasting 12 appearances.
