Al Sadd will start their campaign in the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup, being held in Qatar for the first time, on the inaugural day on Wednesday, 11th December, against Oceania champions Hienghene Sport.

The Qatari champions have more experience than Hienghene Sport and have the home advantage, but they will be wary of the rivals.

Al Sadd, under the tutelage of Xavi Hernandez, are staying fully focused and the Qatar internationals who did duty in the Gulf Cup have returned to their fold. The team’s technical staff had been putting other players through their paces in the absence of main players.

Al Sadd defeated Al Rayyan 6-0 in their last group match in the Ooredoo Cup.

New Caledonian team Hienghene Sport, coached by Felix Tagawa, may not have much credentials in terms of trophies won, but they can prove a tricky side for the rivals.

It may be noted that this is the second time Al Sadd are competing in the Club World Cup, after 2011 in Japan, having won the AFC Champions League title that year. The Wolves represented Asia and finished third then.

This time around, Al Sadd will be keen to match or even emulate that record, especially since they will be playing at home.

Al Sadd will play CONCACAF winners CF Monterrey on Saturday, 14th December, if they pass the first hurdle.