BBC Sport snaps up rights to show coverage of the FIFA Club World Cup

The BBC will show live coverage of the 2019 Club World Cup in the UK after picking up the rights to the FIFA-organised tournament.

The competition kicks off on 11 December in Qatar and will feature the champions of each continent. European champions Liverpool will compete in the 16th edition of the competition in the capital Doha.

Liverpool’s first match will be at the semi-final stage on 18 December, followed by either the final or third-place play-off on 21 December.

The Club World Cup is an annual tournament featuring the champions of six continents.

Joining Liverpool are Brazilian side Flamengo, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal, Tunisia’s Esperance de Tunis and Monterrey from Mexico, as well as Oceanian champions Hienghene Sport – from the tiny Pacific island of New Caledonia.

Host team Al-Sadd completes the seven-team line-up.

Qatar will host the next two Club World Cup tournaments in 2019 and 2020, with both serving as test events for the country hosting the 2022 World Cup.

Liverpool’s games will be shown live on BBC TV and every other match will be available to watch online and on the BBC iPlayer.

Philip Bernie, head of BBC TV Sport, said: “We’re very excited to broadcast the Fifa Club World Cup and show audiences the best teams in world football across our free-to-air channels.

“Along with the Fifa World Cup, Uefa European Championship and FA Cup, this competition is a fantastic addition to the BBC’s football portfolio.”