# 2021 FIFA Club World Cup
The 2021 [FIFA Club World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifa-club-world-cup) (officially FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021™, presented by [Alibaba Cloud](https://www.edgepedia.org/alibaba-cloud)) was the 18th edition of FIFA's seven-team knockout tournament between the champions of each continental confederation and the host nation's representative, won by Chelsea FC, who beat [SE Palmeiras](https://www.edgepedia.org/se-palmeiras) 2-1 after extra time in the final in Abu Dhabi.[1](https://publications.fifa.com/en/annual-report-2022/2022-at-a-glance/fifa-club-world-cup-2021/) • [2](https://ipt.fifa.com/media-releases/update-on-fifa-club-world-cup-and-ofc-preliminary-competition-for-qatar-2022)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original host | Japan, withdrawn by the Japan Football Association on 9 September 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the hosting situation in the country[3](https://inside.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/clubworldcup/uae2021/news/update-on-fifa-club-world-cup-2021) |
| Replacement host and dates | United Arab Emirates, 3 to 12 February 2022, after the tournament was delayed by the pandemic[2](https://ipt.fifa.com/media-releases/update-on-fifa-club-world-cup-and-ofc-preliminary-competition-for-qatar-2022) • [1](https://publications.fifa.com/en/annual-report-2022/2022-at-a-glance/fifa-club-world-cup-2021/) |
| Teams | Al Ahly SC (CAF), Al Jazira Club (host), Al Hilal SFC (AFC), Chelsea FC (UEFA), CF Monterrey (Concacaf), SE Palmeiras (CONMEBOL), AS Pirae (OFC)[4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BUblxA-UXY) |
| Final | Chelsea 2-1 Palmeiras (1-1 after 90 minutes) at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, before a crowd of 32,871; Lukaku 55', Veiga pen 64', Havertz 117'[5](https://inside.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/clubworldcup/uae2021/news/havertz-the-hero-as-chelsea-conquer-the-world) • [6](https://www.fifatrainingcentre.com/en/game/tournaments/fifa-club-world-cup/champions-chelsea-unlock-palmeiras-low-block.php) |
| Third place | Al Ahly beat Al Hilal 4-0, tying the record for the biggest victory in a third-place play-off[5](https://inside.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/clubworldcup/uae2021/news/havertz-the-hero-as-chelsea-conquer-the-world) |
| Individual awards | adidas Golden Ball: Thiago Silva (Chelsea); Silver Ball: Dudu (Palmeiras); Bronze Ball: Danilo (Palmeiras); Fair Play Trophy: Chelsea[1](https://publications.fifa.com/en/annual-report-2022/2022-at-a-glance/fifa-club-world-cup-2021/) |
| Significance | Chelsea's first Club World Cup title, and the ninth consecutive edition won by a European side[1](https://publications.fifa.com/en/annual-report-2022/2022-at-a-glance/fifa-club-world-cup-2021/) • [5](https://inside.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/clubworldcup/uae2021/news/havertz-the-hero-as-chelsea-conquer-the-world) |
## Host change and scheduling
Japan had been appointed to host the 2021 edition, but on 9 September 2021 FIFA announced that the Japan Football Association, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and the hosting situation in the country, was no longer in a position to stage the tournament, and that FIFA would look for an alternative host.[3](https://inside.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/clubworldcup/uae2021/news/update-on-fifa-club-world-cup-2021) The United Arab Emirates was later confirmed as host, and on 29 November 2021 the Bureau of the FIFA Council set the dates as 3 to 12 February 2022, with a draw at the Home of FIFA in Zurich deciding the eight matches between the seven clubs.[2](https://ipt.fifa.com/media-releases/update-on-fifa-club-world-cup-and-ofc-preliminary-competition-for-qatar-2022) • [7](https://inside.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/clubworldcup/uae2021/news/draw-sets-clashes-for-exciting-fifa-club-world-cup-uae-2021)
## Format and participants
The competition retained its seven-team knockout format: the winners of each confederation's premier club competition joined the host nation's representative, with the UEFA and CONMEBOL entrants entering at the semi-final stage.[4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BUblxA-UXY) The field comprised Al Ahly (CAF), Al Jazira (host), Al Hilal (AFC), Chelsea (UEFA), [Monterrey](https://www.edgepedia.org/monterrey) (Concacaf), Palmeiras (CONMEBOL), and AS Pirae (OFC).[4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BUblxA-UXY)
In the earlier rounds, Al Ahly eliminated Concacaf champions Monterrey 1-0 in the second round, and Al Hilal beat Al Jazira 6-1, which was the joint-biggest win in any FIFA Club World Cup game to that point.[1](https://publications.fifa.com/en/annual-report-2022/2022-at-a-glance/fifa-club-world-cup-2021/) • [8](https://ipt.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/clubworldcup/uae2021/news/fifa-club-world-cup-final-in-stats)
## Semi-finals
**Palmeiras 2-0 Al Ahly.** Palmeiras became the eighth Brazilian team to reach the final, with Raphael Veiga and Dudu scoring either side of half-time; both goals came from counter-attacks after Palmeiras won back possession from mid-block defending.[1](https://publications.fifa.com/en/annual-report-2022/2022-at-a-glance/fifa-club-world-cup-2021/) • [9](https://www.fifatrainingcentre.com/en/game/tournaments/fifa-club-world-cup/will-chelsea-or-palmeiras-step-in-to-history.php)
**Chelsea 1-0 Al Hilal.** Thomas Tuchel's side, lined up in a 3-4-3, won through [Romelu Lukaku](https://www.edgepedia.org/romelu-lukaku)'s goal after half an hour. Tuchel, isolated in London after testing positive for COVID-19, was in constant contact with his analysts in the media tribune during the match.[1](https://publications.fifa.com/en/annual-report-2022/2022-at-a-glance/fifa-club-world-cup-2021/) • [9](https://www.fifatrainingcentre.com/en/game/tournaments/fifa-club-world-cup/will-chelsea-or-palmeiras-step-in-to-history.php)
## Final
The final was played on 12 February 2022 at the 40,000-seat Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in [Abu Dhabi](https://www.edgepedia.org/abu-dhabi).[9](https://www.fifatrainingcentre.com/en/game/tournaments/fifa-club-world-cup/will-chelsea-or-palmeiras-step-in-to-history.php) Lukaku headed in [Callum Hudson-Odoi](https://www.edgepedia.org/callum-hudson-odoi)'s cross in the 55th minute, and Veiga equalised from the penalty spot ten minutes later after a handball.[1](https://publications.fifa.com/en/annual-report-2022/2022-at-a-glance/fifa-club-world-cup-2021/) With the game heading for a shootout, Chelsea were awarded a penalty for a handball by Luan with three minutes of extra time remaining, and [Kai Havertz](https://www.edgepedia.org/kai-havertz), who had scored the winning goal in the 2021 UEFA Champions League final, converted to secure Chelsea's first world title.[1](https://publications.fifa.com/en/annual-report-2022/2022-at-a-glance/fifa-club-world-cup-2021/) • [6](https://www.fifatrainingcentre.com/en/game/tournaments/fifa-club-world-cup/champions-chelsea-unlock-palmeiras-low-block.php)
The match paired contrasting styles. Chelsea dominated possession, completing 724 distributions at an 86 percent success rate and generating 20 attempts at goal, while Palmeiras set up in a low block (deep, compact defensive formation protecting the goal area) and produced 1,270 defensive actions, the most by any team in a single game in the competition, and 1,115 defensive pressure events.[6](https://www.fifatrainingcentre.com/en/game/tournaments/fifa-club-world-cup/champions-chelsea-unlock-palmeiras-low-block.php) Despite the difference in approach, the teams finished level on 20 final-unit line breaks each.[6](https://www.fifatrainingcentre.com/en/game/tournaments/fifa-club-world-cup/champions-chelsea-unlock-palmeiras-low-block.php)
In the third-place play-off, Al Ahly beat Al Hilal 4-0 through goals from Yasser Ibrahim (two), Ahmed Abdelkader, and Amro Elsoulia, matching River Plate's 4-0 win over [Kashima Antlers](https://www.edgepedia.org/kashima-antlers) in 2018 as the biggest third-place play-off victory.[5](https://inside.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/clubworldcup/uae2021/news/havertz-the-hero-as-chelsea-conquer-the-world)
## COVID-19 measures and campaign
FIFA worked with local authorities on health and sanitary protocols for the tournament. Ticketholders aged 12 and above needed an Al Hosn Green Pass and a negative PCR test taken within 96 hours, or a double vaccination certificate with a PCR test within 96 hours; those under 12 needed a PCR test within 48 hours. All spectators wore masks inside stadiums and passed an electronic temperature check, with access denied at readings above 37.8 °C.[10](https://inside.fifa.com/en/news/health-and-sanitary-protocols)
FIFA and the World Health Organization ran the #ACTogether campaign throughout the tournament, encouraging vaccination, daily public health measures, and support for the WHO's Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, with branding on pitchside boards and campaign videos on stadium screens.[1](https://publications.fifa.com/en/annual-report-2022/2022-at-a-glance/fifa-club-world-cup-2021/)
## Aftermath
The title went to a European side for the ninth consecutive edition; Chelsea had also been the last European side to lose a final, beaten by Corinthians in 2012.[1](https://publications.fifa.com/en/annual-report-2022/2022-at-a-glance/fifa-club-world-cup-2021/) The edition belonged to the seven-team format before FIFA replaced it with an annual Intercontinental Cup from 2024 and a 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in the United States in 2025.[11](https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/fifa-club-world-cup/articles/fifa-council-confirms-key-details-club-world-cup-2025) • [13](https://ipt.fifa.com/organisation/fifa-council/media-releases/fifa-council-approves-international-match-calendars) Total attendance across the tournament was 121,419, according to Abu Dhabi sports event figures.[12](https://knowledgehub.josoorinstitute.qa/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/YGS-JI-Sustainability_CountryFocus_Industry_UAE.pdf)
## References
1. [FIFA Club World Cup 2021™, FIFA Annual Report 2022](https://publications.fifa.com/en/annual-report-2022/2022-at-a-glance/fifa-club-world-cup-2021/)
2. [Update on FIFA Club World Cup and OFC preliminary competition for Qatar 2022, FIFA](https://ipt.fifa.com/media-releases/update-on-fifa-club-world-cup-and-ofc-preliminary-competition-for-qatar-2022)
3. [Update on FIFA Club World Cup 2021™, FIFA](https://inside.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/clubworldcup/uae2021/news/update-on-fifa-club-world-cup-2021)
4. [Chelsea v Palmeiras, FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021 Final, FIFA on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BUblxA-UXY)
5. [Havertz the hero as Chelsea conquer the world, FIFA](https://inside.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/clubworldcup/uae2021/news/havertz-the-hero-as-chelsea-conquer-the-world)
6. [Champions Chelsea unlock Palmeiras low block, FIFA Training Centre](https://www.fifatrainingcentre.com/en/game/tournaments/fifa-club-world-cup/champions-chelsea-unlock-palmeiras-low-block.php)
7. [Draw sets clashes for exciting FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021™, FIFA](https://inside.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/clubworldcup/uae2021/news/draw-sets-clashes-for-exciting-fifa-club-world-cup-uae-2021)
8. [The FIFA Club World Cup final in stats, FIFA](https://ipt.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/clubworldcup/uae2021/news/fifa-club-world-cup-final-in-stats)
9. [will chelsea or palmeiras step in to history? - fifa training centre](https://www.fifatrainingcentre.com/en/game/tournaments/fifa-club-world-cup/will-chelsea-or-palmeiras-step-in-to-history.php)
10. [Health and Sanitary Protocols, FIFA](https://inside.fifa.com/en/news/health-and-sanitary-protocols)
11. [FIFA Council confirms key details for FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, FIFA](https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/fifa-club-world-cup/articles/fifa-council-confirms-key-details-club-world-cup-2025)
12. [Sustainability in the sports, events sector, Josoor Institute](https://knowledgehub.josoorinstitute.qa/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/YGS-JI-Sustainability_CountryFocus_Industry_UAE.pdf)
13. [FIFA Council approves international match calendars](https://ipt.fifa.com/organisation/fifa-council/media-releases/fifa-council-approves-international-match-calendars)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football competitions and records › Competitions and recurring events › Other FIFA competitions › FIFA club competitions › FIFA Club World Cup editions*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license