The organizing committee of the FIFA Club World Cup Abu Dhabi 2017 approved the matches’ program of the championship.
The event will kick off at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain City, with the final to be held at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi. The opening match will take place on December 6, 2017, at HBZ stadium, and the final to be played at Zayed Sports City on December 16, 2017.
The above details were disclosed in a regular meeting held Tuesday, October 11th 2016, at the FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.
The meeting was chaired by HE Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council and member of the higher organizing committee of the FIFA CWC-Abu Dhabi 2017. The meeting was attended by R. Martin, Director of the FIFA Club World Cup Project, a number of FIFA’s marketing, competitions and media officials.
All related matters and details of FIFA CWC-Abu Dhabi 2017 were reviewed and approved at the meeting. Details included using- and for the very first time, video technology to decide disputed refereeing decisions in FIFA CWC-Abu Dhabi 2017.
Training stadia and playgrounds, hotels and all other relevant topics were reviewed and approved as well. This included allowing representatives of clubs taking part in FIFA CWC-Abu Dhabi 2017 to visit Abu Dhabi to inspect stadia, playgrounds, hotels and all other facilities that will host the activities of the championship.
Draw of the championship, which will be held in Zurich in October 2017. In the respect of CWC, the FIFA invited a delegation from the UAE to attend the FIFA CWC championship 216 in Japan.
This move comes to allow the UAE delegation to make use of positive aspects in regard to organizing this event in Tokyo, Japan.
Speaking about the outcomes of the meeting, HE Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and member of the higher organizing committee of the FIFA CWC-Abu Dhabi 2017, said: “Firstly, we would like to acknowledge the support and attention paid by our wise leadership to facilitate hosting this high profile championship here in Abu Dhabi.”
“This event and other various international championships taking place in Abu Dhabi will help develop and expand sport practicing in Abu Dhabi,” Al Awani said.
Al Awani hailed choosing Hazza bin Zayed Stadium to host the opening ceremony of this championship. He assured they would like to invest this iconic stadium to profile and to promote Abu Dhabi as a capital for world-class and high caliber international sport events and championships.
Al Awani assured they will closely coordinate with the UAE football association and the professional football league committee regarding all aspects of this championship. He also indicated that UAE national cadres and volunteers will have the chance to show their administrative and organizing skills in order to reflect their high respective competencies.
For her part, R. Martin, Director of the FIFA Club World Cup Project expressed her happiness for what has been accomplished and achieved so far in terms of FIFA CWC-Abu Dhabi 2017.
She said Abu Dhabi and the UAE made remarkable impressions when they hosted previous FIFA championships. She cited the FIFA U-20 World Cup UAE 2003, the FIFA CWC- Abu Dhabi 2009 & 2010, and the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013 as examples.
