Spanish giants and European champions Actual Madrid face Mexico’s Pachuca within the FIFA Intercontinental Cup closing in Doha.
Who: Actual Madrid vs Pachuca
What: FIFA Intercontinental Cup closing
The place: Lusail Stadium, Doha, Qatar
When: 8pm (17:00 GMT) on Wednesday December 18
Comply with Al Jazeera’s dwell textual content and picture build-up and commentary.
European champions Actual Madrid will goal a record-extending sixth international crown after they enter the inaugural FIFA Intercontinental Cup in opposition to Mexican facet Pachuca within the closing to be performed in Qatar on Wednesday.
The Champions League holders and Europe’s most profitable membership facet had been granted direct qualification to the event’s showpiece finale as UEFA’s continental champions.
Pachuca are the underdogs – however they’ve capped off an excellent 12-month run of kind with a powerful efficiency in Doha.
The newly branded Intercontinental competitors has changed the FIFA Membership World Cup and shall be held yearly for the six continental champions as a part of FIFA’s new international membership competitors format. The Club World Cup has now expanded to 32 of the best membership groups from around the globe and shall be held each 4 years.
Actual Madrid aren’t any strangers to a #FIFAIntercontinentalCup closing! ⏪🏆 pic.twitter.com/SFwBW3L2MH
— FIFA Membership World Cup (@FIFACWC) December 17, 2024
As winners of the CONCACAF Continental Cup (for groups in North America, Central America and the Caribbean confederation), Pachuca’s possibilities of victory in opposition to Actual Madrid are to not be dismissed frivolously.
Their 3-0 takedown of Botafogo on Thursday within the Derby of the Americas was a shock consequence with the Brazilian giants favourites heading into the match.
No much less spectacular was Pachuca’s victory on penalties in opposition to African powerhouse Al Ahly within the final spherical to elevate the Challenger Cup, sealing the Mexican membership’s greatest ever end in a FIFA event.
Actual Madrid, who’ve gained the FIFA Membership World Cup 5 instances (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022), will as soon as once more be the favourites for Wednesday evening’s closing.
The squad is stacked with unmatched world class expertise at a membership stage, together with Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior.
The ultimate shall be performed in Lusail Stadium and marks two years to the day since Qatar hosted the World Cup final, by which Argentina overcame France.
Actual Madrid crew information
Mbappe has been passed fit to function within the closing – however whether or not the thigh harm that threatened his participation will permit him to begin stays to be seen. The French star limped out of the 3-2 win at Atalanta within the Champions League final Wednesday.
Dani Carvajal, David Alaba and Eder Militao are all absent with long-term knee accidents. Ferland Mendy can also be sidelined.
Pachuca crew information
Pachuca coach Guillermo Almada has no new harm considerations for the match and will retain the identical XI that overcame Al Ahly on Sunday.
Salomon Rondon, 35, who loved a protracted profession within the English Premier League with Newcastle United, Everton and West Bromwich Albion, is the star identify and was Participant of the Match in his facet’s CONCACAF victory in opposition to Columbus Crew.
The place can I watch and observe the FIFA Intercontinental Cup closing?
Regional broadcasters and on-line streaming platforms will televise the sport dwell.
Al Jazeera Sport will run a dwell textual content commentary stream and picture protection of the match.
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🤝 @Zegna#RealMadridxZegna pic.twitter.com/ZS1N4prA7b— Actual Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 17, 2024
