David Villa and Paolo Maldini visit Jeddah as legends join fans in counting down to the start of the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023

FIFA Club World Cup winners and football icons David Villa and Paolo Maldini showed-off their skills in Jeddah today as they visited the Kingdom ahead of next month’s FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023™. The pair – both FIFA Legends, who won the FIFA Club World Cup with Barcelona and AC MIlan respectively – interacted with football fans young and old as they spent the afternoon at the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023™ official pre-tournament roadshow on Jeddah Corniche.

The football megastars spent their time sharing their own memories of the tournament, reminiscing about their own experiences as past champions, and sharing their expectations for this year’s competition, which takes place in Jeddah December 12-22. They also took the time to test their skills with boys and girls on the roadshow’s fun and interactive football challenges.

The Roadshow, which is on the Jeddah Corniche for its second phase, following three weeks in Al Balad, aims to boost fan engagement leading up to the tournament through activations including its trophy showcase and various entertainment activities that allow fans to have enjoyable experiences and participate in the celebratory atmosphere of Jeddah as it prepares to host this global event.

"It is great to see how everything is building up for the Tournament. I was able to experience first-hand the passion and enthusiasm of fans here in Saudi Arabia and I'm sure that the FIFA Club World Cup will be fantastic for fans and all taking part", Maldini Commented.

"It is great being in Jeddah to promote the FIFA Club World Cup. It is an amazing competition and I'm sure that Saudi Arabia will be up for the task of hosting and we will see lots of passionate fans filling up the stadiums", Villa said.

The FIFA Club World Cup™ is held annually with the participation of clubs that have won the major championships in continental federations, along with the representative of the host country. The tournament is known for its competitive and exciting atmosphere, providing fans of all ages the opportunity to witness some of the world's best football talents.

The Kingdom is hosting the 20th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup™ at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Al Jawhara) and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium. Jeddah will host matches for the seven qualified clubs: Al-Ittihad (KSA – Host country champion), Manchester City (ENG - UEFA Champions League winner), Urawa Reds (JPN - AFC Champions League winner), Al-Ahly (EGY - CAF champions League winner), Auckland City (NZL - OFC Champions League winner), Club León (MEX - CONCACAF Champions League Winner), and Fluminense (BRA - Copa Libertadores winner).

It's worth noting that the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and FIFA have announced the official mascot for the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023™, the Sand Cat (Haddaf), symbolizing the spirit of sportsmanship and the principle that football is for everyone, regardless of background or affiliations.