Bayern Munich will face Africa or Asia’s champions in the semifinals, while South American representatives Atlético Mineiro will take on one of Monterrey (Mexico), Auckland City (New Zealand) or Raja Casablanca (Morocco). That’s the result of today’s draw in Marrakesh, where the eight teams that will participate in the 2013 Club World Cup were slotted into the bracket for this December’s tournament.
After spending six of the last eight years in Japan, the tournament shifts to Africa for the first time, with Morocco winning the rights to host the annual competition among confederation champions. Raja Casablanca, as champions of the host nation’s domestic league, join the five confederation winners that have already qualified: Bayern Munich (Europe), Atlético Mineiro (South America), Monterrey (North/Central America, the Caribbean), and Aukland City (Oceania).
Champions from Asia and Africa have yet to be crowned, with those winners to face each other in the quarterfinal in Bayern Munich’s half of the draw. China’s well-funded juggernaut, Guangzhou Evergrande, will face FC Seoul (Korea) in the finals of Asia’s Champions League, while four teams (Cameroon’s Coton Sport, Tunisia’s Esperance, Egypt’s Al-Ahly, and South Africa’ Orlando Pirates) remain alive to represent Africa.
On the other side of the draw, Monterrey enters in the quarterfinals to face the winner of Raja Casalanca and Aukland City. Waiting in the semis? Ronaldinho and Atlético Mineiro.
It’s all a bit confusing, but that’s what you’re left with when a bracket that looks like this (snapshot, Wikipedia) ...
... with a draw occurring before two spots have been decided.
Regardless, we’re left with to potentially intriguing semifinals; at least, intriguing by this normally overlooked tournament’s standards. Bayern Munich could end up facing Marcello Lippi, Dario Conca, and whomever else Guangzhou buys before the tournament, while an Atlético Mineiro team fighting to secure a top-four finish in Brazil will take on a Monterrey side still looking for their Club World Cup breakthrough.
Atlético will also be looking to replicate the achievement of last year’s South American representatives, with Corinthians defeating Chelsea to claim 2012’s world title.
This year’s tournament begins on Dec. 11, with the final taking place in Marrakesh on Dec. 21.