A Whole New Ball Game

The UAE is set to host the Club World Cup final again this year. Can the FA rise up to the challenge?

- Gary Meenagahan

Barasti will roll out their beach side big screen, Hemingway’s will be fitted out in football paraphernalia, and McGettigan’s will be even more raucous than usual. The annual UEFA Champions League final is always one of the most-watched events on the Emirates’ sporting calendar, yet this year’s match on June 3 takes on added significance for those in the UAE.

The winners of Europe’s premier club competition will, as usual, qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup, as will the champions of each of FIFA’s other five continental confederations: Asia, Africa, Oceania, South America, and North and Central America and the Caribbean (Concacaf). However, unlike the past two years’ events that were held in Japan, this year’s tournament will be held in Abu Dhabi. From December 6-16, the best teams in world football will descend upon the UAE capital.

We already know Barcelona, Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich will not be playing at Zayed Sports City. We also know Leicester City’s fairytale will not culminate at Al Ain’s Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium. We will though soon learn whether UAE residents will be watching Real Madrid live for the first time since their 2014 Dubai friendly, whether Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann or Juventus’ Paulo Dybala will make their first appearance in the Emirates, or whether Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe will get the chance to display his unquestionable talents against continental competition.