Real Madrid may face Guadalajara in Club World Cup

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European champions Real Madrid will face either Mexican side Guadalajara or the eventual Asian champions in this year's Club World Cup semi-finals following the draw made on Tuesday amid uncertainty over the future of the competition.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has ambitious plans to expand the tournament from 2021 onwards, staging it every four years rather than annually and increasing the number of teams from seven to 24.

Those plans have yet to be approved by the FIFA Council and in the meantime, it is uncertain if the tournament, which this year will be staged in the United Arab Emirates in December, will continue its current form in 2019 and 2020.

Only four of this year's participants were known on Tuesday with the Asian, African and South American club championships all at the quarter-final stage.

Real, winners for the last two years, and the eventual South American champions received byes to the last four.

Oceania champions Team Wellington will meet Al Ain, champions of the host nation, in a preliminary match for the right to play the African champions in the second round.

The winners of that game will face South America's Libertadores Cup champions.

Official draw results for the FIFA Club World Cup revealed in Zurich. /VCG Photo

Guadalajara, the champions of Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) , were drawn against the Asian champions in the other of the two second-round ties with a match against Real Madrid as the prize.

Although it is often felt that European sides regard the cup as little more than an exotic mid-season diversion, it creates huge interest in South America where fans long for the chance for their team to appear on the world stage.

Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno dismissed any suggestion it would be a walkover for his team.

"Obviously, we have every confidence in our players but last year, the final was very even and the semi-finals were very difficult," he said, remembering a 2-1 win over Al-Jazira in the semi-final and 1-0 win over Gremio in the final.

"Our opponents are always very highly motivated. They are young players who see this tournament as a chance to get themselves known around the world."

The tournament will start between Wellington and Al Ain on December, 12. The final will be held on December 22.

Source(s): Reuters