Real, who previously won in 2014 and then three consecutive tournaments from 2016 to 2018, are on course to meet Flamengo in the final, but both must first play a semi-final before they can set up an interesting encounter in Rabat on February 11.

European clubs have won the last nine competitions, dominating since 2012 when Corinthians beat Chelsea in the final in Japan in a rare South American success.

Last year's Champions League and Copa Libertadores winners are only involved when the tournament reaches the Final-4, but it starts when Egypt's Al Ahly, who qualify as one of two African representatives, meet Auckland City in Tangiers in the opening tie of play off.

The Oceania champions from New Zealand are competing in the competition for a record 10th time against the equally experienced Cairo giants, who are in their eighth Club World Cup.

That winner advances to a quarterfinal match on Saturday against the Seattle Sounders. The US club won last year's CONCACAF Champions League but had a miserable campaign in Major League Soccer, and is the first club from the US to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup.

African champions Ouidat Casablanca can expect passionate home support for their game on the same day as.

Asian counterpart Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia. Ouidat's squad includes three players from the Morocco squad that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar in December.

Flamengo will only play their first leg in the semi-final on February 7 and Real Madrid a day later.

The Club World Cup, which will be held in Morocco from February 1 to 11, will be the stage where the IFAB, the body that approves all changes to football regulations, will present a new innovation, the referees' explanation to the fans via microphone of their decisions after seeing the VAR.

The tournament in Morocco is among the last in its current format as FIFA announced it will host an expanded 32-team Club World Cup in mid-2025.