Three A-Leagues officials will take centre stage when the new-look FIFA Club World Cup gets underway on Sunday in the United States.
The Isuzu UTE A-League’s very own Alireza Faghani has been chosen as the referee for the historic opening clash between Egyptian side Al Ahly and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday morning at 10am (AEST).
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Joining Faghani will be assistant referees Anton Shchetinin and Ashley Beacham, both of whom have plenty of experience when it comes to officiating both in the A-Leagues as well as on the international stage.
Meanwhile fellow Isuzu UTE A-League referee Shaun Evans will also officiate matches at the competition meaning Australia will have a total of four representatives in the USA.
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The new-look competition features 32 teams from around the globe who have been split into eight groups of four as they compete to be crowned club world champions.
Among those to be competing at the tournament will be European giants such as LaLiga juggernaut Real Madrid, Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich, Premier League giants Manchester City and UEFA Champions League runners-up Inter whilst countries like Japan, Brazil, Argentina, USA and Saudi Arabia all have sides competing at the tournament.
Furthermore, New Zealand football fans will be watching on with a keen eye when Auckland City – boasting former Wellington Phoenix defender Nikko Boxall – kick off their FIFA Club World Cup campaign in the early hours of Monday morning.
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Beginning with a tough opening match against Bayern Munich, Auckland City then face Portuguese side Benfica before closing out their group stage campaign with a clash legendary Argentinian side Boca juniors.
In total there will be 63 games played out across 12 venues with Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, D.C all chosen as host cities.
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