Al-Ahly FIFA has approved Al-Ahly\'s request for players to be able to wear black armbands during the upcoming Club World Cup, in memory of the 72 fans who died in February\'s Port Said disaster.  Seventy-two Ahly fans were killed and hundreds were injured during clashes with Al-Masry fans in a league game back in February.
Hossam El-Badry\'s side could face the hosts Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Japan, if Hiroshima overcome New Zealand\'s Auckland City. El-Badry is confident of victory on the global stage, but does not want the players to feel any pressure. \"It’s a personal challenge for me and a challenge for Ahly. I came to Japan three times as the assistant coach, and I’m now in charge of the team. My aim is to safeguard Ahly’s status in African and international football,\" he told reporters.
If Ahly win their first match, they may tackle Brazil’s Corinthians in the semi-final. El-Badry\'s players have slowly been acclimatising to the Japanese timezone, with a club statement confirming, \"El-Badry decided to train the players early this morning and asked them not to sleep to break the gap between Egypt and Japan Time.\"
The Club World Cup will see FIFA will trial goal-line technology for the first time in an official tournament. \"This is a kind of revolution. If you have the chance to touch perfection why wouldn\'t you try?\" FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke told reporters.
London side Chelsea will face Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea or Mexicans Monterrey in Yokohama on 13 December.