The UAE has been awarded the hosting rights for the Fifa Club World Cups in 2017 and 2018, seeing the championship return to the country where it was held in 2009 and 2010.
In mid-December of every year, Fifa organises the international club football tournament between the champion clubs from each of the six continental confederations, as well as the national league champion from the host country.
Local sides Al Ahli and Al Wahda have taken part in the two editions of the tournament which hosted by the UAE.
Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, National Security Advisor and Honorary Chairman of the UAE Football Association, said the acceptance of the UAE’s bid, along with the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, confirms the county’s ability to organise and host major world sports championships.
“The UAE will take the world by surprise and beat all expectations when it hosts the three prominent world sports events, which will add another feather to the UAE’s cap,” he said.
The win, he noted, is a source of pride throughout the Arab World and its impact will go beyond the sports sector to underpinning international confidence in the UAE, its leadership and progress.
He also underscored the determination of the UAE leadership to provide the UAE sports sector will all resources to allow its athletes to participate in international competitions.
