Long-term victims Dani Carvajal, Alaba and Militão have been registered for the tournament and will receive medals if Madrid win.
As for Real Madrid, if the team manages to win the Intercontinental Cup in Qatar next week, every member of the first team will receive a winners' medal – even those who do not physically participate in the tournament. .
For their part in helping the team reach this stage (by winning last season's Champions League), players currently recovering from long-term injuries have been officially registered for the tournament – even if they have no chance of playing .
Dani Carvajal and Militão were two of the first names added to the roster. They are included along with David Alaba, who is in the final stages of his recovery and could return next month.
The club has registered all three players so that if the team lifts the trophy, they will be officially recognized and the victory will be added to their own personal roll of honour. It is an internal gesture to show gratitude for what all three contributed before their injuries.
It has not yet been decided whether Carvajal and Militão will travel to Qatar with the team, although there is a possibility that they will both do so in an exercise of unity and, above all, leadership. Besides the fact that they cannot play, everyone in the locker room recognizes what they bring to the group off the field: experience, confidence, encouragement, advice, strength…
While Carvajal has five Club World Cup winners' medals, Alaba three and Militao one, the Intercontinental Cup is a brand new tournament – an offshoot of the old Club World Cup and a nod to the original competition that ran from 1960 to 2004.
When will Real Madrid play in the 2024 Intercontinental Cup?
Real Madrid have automatically qualified for the final, where they will meet the winners of Match 4 between CONCACAF Champions Cup winners Pachuca (who defeated Botafogo 0-3 in the Derby of the Americas) or Egypt's Al Ahly, who defeated the African -Asian title claimed. Pacific Cup beats Al-Ain by the same score.
The 2024 Intercontinental Cup Final will be played at the iconic Lusail Stadium in Doha (the same venue that hosted the 2022 World Cup Final between Argentina and France), on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, scheduled for kick-off at 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM p.m. PT (local time; 8:00 PM AST).
Viewers in the United States can watch the game live on Fox Sports Channel or on
Madrid's meetings with Pachuca and Al Ahly
Madrid have played against Mexican teams in the past, but have never crossed paths with Pachuca. However, the Spanish giants have met Al Ahly before – once, in the semi-final of the 2022 Club World Cup, where Madrid won 1-4 with goals from Vinicius, Fede Valverde, Rodrygo and Sergio Arribas. Ali Maâloul pulled one back for the Egyptians from the penalty spot.
Real Madrid won the old Intercontinental Cup in its previous guise in 1960, 1998 and 2002, beating Peñarol, Vasco da Gama and Olimpia respectively.
Before the team leaves for Qatar, Ancelotti will take on city rival Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga on Saturday evening. Madrid are second in the table with 36 points, two behind Barcelona.
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