Al Ahly have become the first African team to qualify for the newly formed FIFA Intercontinental Cup after winning the 2023/24 CAF Champions League final.
Following the expansion of the Club World Cup from seven to 32 teams beginning in 2025, FIFA have decided to create an annual club competition beginning in 2024 under the name of Intercontinental Cup.
It will feature the champions of the top club competitions of the six confederations of FIFA, with the inaugural edition of the tournament scheduled to take place in December 2024.
The tournament will be played over 4 rounds, with the first round seeing the African champions or the Asian champions (as determined by a draw) hosting the winner of the 2024 OFC Champions League.
The winner of that game will then host the other team that got a bye in the second round, where also the Copa Libertadores champions will be facing the CONCACAF Champions Cup winners.
The winners of the second-round matches will play each other at a neutral venue in the playoff before the winner faces the UEFA Champions League winners in the final at the same neutral venue.
So far only three teams have secured their spots in the competition, namely New Zealand’s Auckland City, UAE’s Al Ain, and Egypt’s Al Ahly.
Joining them will be one of Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund, one of Mexico’s Pachuca or USA’s Columbus Crew in addition to the Copa Libertadores winner who will be decided in November.