CHELSEA landed a dream draw in the Fifa Club World Cup – but Manchester City will have things tougher.
The revamped tournament will now be contested with a similar format to the World Cup – staged next year in America from June 15-July 13.
Gianni Infantino with the new Club World Cup Trophy[/caption] There was a special message from US President-elect Donald Trump[/caption] Ivanka Trump and her son Theo[/caption] Diletta Leotta was on hand to present the show[/caption]But it all kicked off with the group-stage draw from Miami and hosted by Italian presenter Diletta Leotta.
Chelsea wound up in Group D and drew Brazil‘s Flamengo, Club Leon of Mexico and Esperance de Tunis from Tunisia.
The draw looks set to reunite Blues fans with cult hero David Luiz – who won the Champions League in West London but now plays for Flamengo.
City meanwhile face Italian giants Juventus, Morocco‘s Wydad AC and Al Ain of the UAE.
Jude Bellingham‘s Real Madrid will play Saudi champions Al Hilal, RB Salzburg of Austria and Mexico‘s Pachuca.
Harry Kane‘s Bayern Munich take onBenfica, Boca Juniors and Aukland City in Group C.
Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger was on hand to help pick out the teams but only after being made to perform some awkward dad dancing.
US President-elect Donald Trump‘s eight-year-old grandson Theo also helped pick out the draw with the politician’s daughter Ivanka.
Fifa Club World Cup draw in full
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami
Group B: PSG, Atlético Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders
Group C: Bayern, Benfica, Boca Juniors, Auckland City
Group D: Flamengo, Chelsea, Club León, Esperance de Tunis
Group E: River Plate, Inter, Monterrey, Urawa Red Diamonds
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD, Mamelodi
Group G: Manchester City, Juventus, Wydad, Al Ain
Group H: Real Madrid, RB Salzburg, Al Hilal, Pachuca
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There was even a message from President Trump – who referred to Fifa president Gianni Infantino as “Jonny“.
Trump said: “The event is going to be incredible. I will try and be there if I can, I would, we’ll see what happens.
“But I just want to say you’re led by a man named Jonny, I just know him as Jonny and he’s a winner and he’s the president and I’m the president.
“We’ve known each other a long time and I’m so honoured to have this kind of relationship because Soccer is going through the roof as everybody knows.
“It’s been doing so fantastically well, my son Baron is a tremendous soccer fan, he’s actually a good player – I guess not quite that kind of good but he’s a very good player.
“But he loves soccer and it really is taking over the United States in terms of a sport and I congratulate everybody.
“But in particular I wish you too have a good time and I want to send my highest regards and respect to Johnny.
“It’s been an honour to be with you and will be with you very soon and we’re going to watch the World Cup very importantly also very soon.
“I was very responsible along with Johnny in getting it and it’s going to be a fantastic thing.”
The new Club World Cup format sees teams divided into eight groups of four and play each other once.
Top two teams in each group then progress to the knockout stage.
The last 16 is the first single knockout round – followed by the quarter-final, semi-final and then final.
Details on how fans can watch the Club World Cup emerged earlier this week, with DAZN snapping up the rights.
Arsene Wenger performed some awkward dad dancing[/caption] Brazilian model Adriana Lima also presented[/caption] Diletta Leotta with host Samantha Johnson Alessandro del Piero[/caption]