UAE to face Auckland City as FIFA Club World Cup announces face-offs

The UAE's Al Jazira will be facing Auckland City, with Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal to play the winner, according to the draw of the FIFA Club World Cup.

The tournament takes place between February 3 and 12, 2022, in Abu Dhabi for the fifth time after it won hosting duties in 2009, 2010, 2017 and 2018.

Africa's Al Ahly take on the Mexican side Monterrey for the chance to progress to a semi-final meeting with Copa Libertadores winner Palmeiras, while Chelsea has been drawn to face Auckland City, Al Jazira or Al Hilal in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup.

FIFA was supposed to expand the Club World Cup and started playing it every four years from 2021, with the first to be held in China during the summer.

However, the impact of the pandemic saw those plans shelved until at least 2022, 2023 or 2024.

The 2021 FIFA Club World Cup will be held in the UAE.

After the expanded format was postponed, the original host was supposed to be Japan, until ongoing coronavirus concerns saw them withdraw.