The Seattle Sounders, the 2022 Concacaf champions, will open play in the FIFA Club World Cup 2022 on Feb. 4 against the winner of a match between New Zealand’s Auckland City and Egypt’s Al Ahly, one of two African representatives.

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Paul Kennedy edited Soccer America for 41 years (1985-2026). He began writing for SA in 1974. He started writing for France Football in 1978 and has served on in Ballon d'Or jury since 2007.