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FIFA World Cup stars to play in Abu Dhabi

Five of the eight nations that have reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa will feature some of the big names expected to travel with their clubs to Abu Dhabi later this year.

FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2010 qualifiers Inter Milan will have some of their leading players in the Brazilian, Argentina, Ghana and Holland line-ups over the weekend, while Mexico’s CF Pachuca’s skipper and veteran Edgar Benitez has made a regular appearance for Paraguay over the last few weeks.

John Lickrish, General Manager for the Local Organising Committee of the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2010, says the World Cup has generated a lot of excitement across the country and believes this will continue once the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2010 begins.

“These champions are recognised all over the world and more so now after the World Cup, where we have seen so many surprises throughout the tournament. There is no better time for football fans to take advantage of seeing these World Cup stars in action than when they are playing here in Abu Dhabi,” he said. “The FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2010 gives all fans across the emirates and the GCC the chance to be part of a similar experience and witness some great football matches along the way.”

Other World Cup stars expected to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2010 from December 8-18 are Samuel Eto’o, the Cameroon captain and Inter Milan striker, and his club teammates Dejan Stankovic (Serbia) and Rene Krhin (Slovenia). CF Pachuca, the CONCACAF zone qualifier for the FIFA Club World Cup, had several other players in this World Cup, including Francisco Torres (USA) and Paul Aguilar (Mexico).

The FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2010 brings together the champion clubs from all six continental confederations — Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America and Oceania. Abu Dhabi will host the tournament for the second consecutive year before it returns to Japan in 2011.

Four teams have already qualified for the prestigious event; the European champions Inter Milan, five-time UAE domestic league title-holders Al Wahda, Oceania’s Hekari United and CF Pachuca.

The other finals will take place as follows: CONMEBOL South American Champions final (August 18); AFC Asian Champions League final (November 13); CAF African Champions final (November 12-14).