Auckland City FC will begin their quest for international glory early on Monday morning (4 AM on September 22 NZT) as they kick off in FIFA’s new Intercontinental Cup, a competition that sees the winners of each FIFA confederation compete for global supremacy.

Catch the action live and free on FIFA+ from 4am 

The Navy Blues, as winners of the OFC Champions League, will take on AFC Champions League winners Al Ain FC in their home country of the UAE.

The tournament format will allow the winners of this match to progress to face African champions Al Ahly on October 29 in Cairo, Egypt. The winner of that game will then meet the victor of the CONMEBOL vs. Concacaf Americas derby for a spot in the final against UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid on December 18 in Doha, Qatar.

Al Ain FC presents a significant challenge for Auckland City FC, with a squad rich in international talent.

Without a doubt, attacker Soufiane Rahimi is the biggest threat for the Abu Dhabi-based side. The Moroccan can play as a forward or on the wing and finished the AFC Champions League as both the top scorer and the most valuable player.

With 22 caps and 7 goals for his national team, Rahimi recently earned a bronze medal at Paris 2024, scoring two goals in the third-place playoff.

Auckland City FC will be looking to continue their strong Northern League form, having won the title for the fourth consecutive year.

Article added: Sunday 22 September 2024