Real Madrid face Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup final. Ancelotti can win a record 15th title

LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) – Real Madrid will face Mexican club Pachuca in the final of the watered-down Intercontinental Cup on Wednesday, with Carlo Ancelotti having a chance to become Madrid’s most decorated coach.

Ancelotti goes into the final himself on 14 trophies with Miguel Muñoz, who coached the Spanish powerhouse in the 1960s and 70s.

Madrid could become the most successful club in the competition if they win their fourth title. Pachuca has never won the tournament, which brings together the champions of all six football confederations.

The tournament will be played in a new format after FIFA expanded the Club World Cup to 32 teams for 2025.

Madrid went straight to the final without having to play any matches as European champions, while Pachuca progressed by defeating South American champions Botafogo and Al Ahly of Egypt in the opening rounds of the tournament, which took place in Qatar.

Madrid are likely to want Kylian Mbappé available again after one left thigh injury. Mbappé missed Madrid’s 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league on Saturday. The French star was injured and substituted after scoring in Madrid’s 3-2 win at Atalanta in the Champions League last week.

Madrid won the Intercontinental Cup three times (1960, 1998 and 2002) before FIFA started organizing the Club World Cup every year. It has won the Club World Cup five times (2014, 2016, 2017–18 and 2022).

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