Excitement around the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 presented by TOYOTA has reached fever pitch, as European champions FC Barcelona arrived in Abu Dhabi last night, eager to compete for the one major title which has eluded the club. Barcelona will play Atlante FC of Mexico on Wednesday 16th December at Zayed Sports City, with the winner advancing to the final match on Saturday 19th December.
FC Barcelona are one of the world’s most popular football clubs and have won twelve major European titles in their history. The team is led by captain Carles Puyol and features some of the biggest names in world football, such as Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Thierry Henry. The side is representing UEFA (European Football Confederation) in the FIFA Club World Cup, after defeating Manchester United 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League Final in Rome last May.
Commenting on the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009, Barcelona star full-back Dani Alves said: “It’s very important for me. I’ve followed the competition as a fan and it was time I got my chance to be on the inside. It’s also a unique opportunity for the club to finally win the one competition it has yet to get its hands on.”