JEDDAH: The 20th edition of the Club World Cup, hosted for the first time in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from December 12 to 22, has achieved extraordinary statistics and achievements, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Sunday.
It witnessed intense contest among the 7 participating teams, complemented by a splendid global fan turnout from several continents, enhancing the overall excitement of the mega tournament.
In this edition in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Manchester City made its mark in the golden champions’ list of the mega event after clinching its first title in the last version of the championship under its present format, which is set to change in the next editions.
Saudi Edition of FIFA Club World Cup Sets Record-Breaking Triumphs: SPA
Karim Benzema, the French footballer from Saudi’s Al-Ittihad FC, also made history by becoming the first player to score in 4 different editions of the FIFA Club World Cup, the SPA added. Julian Alvarez of Manchester City also clinched the title for the fastest goal in history of Club World Cup, scoring just 40 seconds into the final game against Brazil’s Fluminense.
Pep Guardiola, the Spanish coach of Manchester City, strengthened his position as the most successful coach, securing his 4TH title. In a separate triumph, Egypt’s Al-Ahly claimed their 4TH bronze medal in the history of the mega event.
Fluminense’s Felipe Melo etched his name in history, emerging as the oldest outfield footballer in the mega tournament at the age of forty. These accomplishments add to an array of statistics highlighting the excellence of the Saudi edition of the championship, the SPA said.
Saudi Edition of FIFA Club World Cup Sets Record-Breaking Achievements.https://t.co/nyL4smcOFA#SPAGOV pic.twitter.com/E6REsQbaGV
— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) December 24, 2023
The Saudi edition also witnessed record-breaking attendance during the first match at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium between New Zealand’s Auckland City and Al-Ittihad FC, surpassing figures from the earlier 19 editions. With a turnout of more than 50,000 fans, this achievement drew global acclaim, receiving admiration from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, continental football association leaders, and international media personalities.
Throughout the mega tournament, including the final, fans from several continents flocked to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to support their favorite sides or simply revel in the World Cup atmosphere gracing Jeddah and its distinctive tourist areas, the SPA maintained.
Media coverage of the tournament was robust, with more than 500 journalists—both male and female—representing major entities. They received top-notch organizational and logistical support at King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal stadiums, facilitating comprehensive coverage of the matches during the mega event.
