Atlante FC have become the second team to secure a place in the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009, following last night’s CONCACAF Champions League final second leg in Cancun, Mexico. Atlante held off Cruz Azul for a 0-0 draw to win the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League, prevailing on 2-0 aggregate to win its first confederation crown in 26 years. Atlante won the first leg of the final in Mexico City on April 22, and will represent CONCACAF in the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time, where they will compete to be crowned the club champions of the world.
“It feels very good,” said Atlante manager Jose Guadalupe Cruz. “It feels like we accomplished what we wanted to. We know, however, from now on, that the task will be much greater, because we will not only be representing Atlante, but Mexican soccer and CONCACAF. Without a doubt it’s going to be an important experience for all of us. We will grow and learn by playing against the best clubs in the world. We will have to prepare ourselves very well.
The goal is to perform as well as possible and represent the area of CONCACAF.”
The FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 presented by TOYOTA will see seven teams compete over the course of eight matches from 9-19 December for a prize fund of 16.5 million USD, with the overall winners earning 5 million USD.
Two of the world’s most revered club teams, FC Barcelona and current FIFA Club World Cup Champions Manchester United, are next to battle it out for a chance to participate in the tournament when they compete in the
UEFA Champions League final in Rome on 27 May.
Both teams enjoy a strong following in the UAE and will ensure huge interest in the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009. Spectators will have the opportunity to watch players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney or Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o showcase their legendary skills in Abu Dhabi this December. Rooney earned the adidas Golden Ball award in 2008 as the tournament’s leading goalscorer.
The FIFA Club World Cup continues to grow in stature and popularity, with last year’s tournament in Japan attracting 355,515 spectators over the course of the 10-day event.
Earlier this month, Auckland City from New Zealand, representing the Oceania Football Confederation, became the first team to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009.
