- The contest marks the first ever FCWC appearance for the Liga MX club
MIAMI, Florida – 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League winners Tigres UANL of Mexico will kick off their campaign in the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup on Thursday with a second-round match-up against Ulsan Hyundai FC of South Korea.
The contest marks the first ever FCWC appearance for the Liga MX club, who will meet the 2020 Asian Football Confederations champions at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.
Tigres are one of two teams making their FCWC debut, along with hosts Al-Duhail and are the ninth different team from Concacaf to appear in the tournament.
Mexican sides Pachuca (2007, 2008, 2010, 2017), Monterrey (2011, 2012, 2013, 2019), Club America (2006, 2015, 2016), Necaxa (2000), Atlante (2009), Cruz Azul (2014) and Chivas (2018) have all previously featured in a FCWC, along with Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica (2005).
Tigres Head Coach Ricardo Ferretti can expect to have his full arsenal at his disposal against the South Korean side, including star FW Andre-Pierre Gignac, who took home Golden Ball and Golden Boot honors at the 2020 SCCL for his tournament-leading six goals, including the game-winning goal in the Final, a 2-1 victory over Los Angeles FC.
Thursday’s affair will be a first ever meeting with Ulsan Hyundai and the Tigres defense will need to be aware of playmaking MF Yoon Bit-garam, who was the winner of the 2020 AFC Champions League Golden Ball.
The winner of Thursday’s match will advance to the semifinals to face 2020 Conmebol Copa Libertadores champion Palmeiras of Brazil on Sunday.
