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Another Big Score For Morocco As Club World Cup Opening Ceremony Is Awarded Best Ceremony –

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Another Big Score For Morocco As Club World Cup Opening Ceremony Is Awarded Best Ceremony -

The opening ceremony of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, which took place in Morocco last year has won the Best Ceremony Prize at the HEAVENT AWARDS 2024 held in Cannes, France.

 

The HEAVENT AWARDS organization selected the ceremony, organized by the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, among the best nominated works alongside other opening ceremonies of international sporting events before awarding it the prize for Best Ceremony.

 

This world award recognizes Moroccan talent and creativity that made it possible to achieve an opening ceremony of international scope. It also demonstrates Morocco’s ability to successfully organize the largest global events in all areas.

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The ceremony, which was held at the Ibn Battuta Stadium in Tangier, fascinated spectators around the world with its unique artistic performances that highlighted Moroccan heritage and its openness to the world.

 

The ceremony paid tribute to the famous Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta, a symbol of the link between cultures and peoples, and his travels that contributed to Morocco’s opening to the world.

 

Moroccan folk troupes also presented artistic displays reflecting the richness and authenticity of Moroccan heritage.

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The ceremony also paid tribute to the daughter of football legend Pelé and featured a special appearance by national coach Walid Regragui.

 

Here are some additional details about the ceremony:

 

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  • It was held at the Ibn Battuta Stadium in Tangier, Morocco.
  • It featured artistic performances that highlighted Moroccan heritage and its openness to the world.
  • It paid tribute to the famous Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta.
  • It featured Moroccan folk troupes presenting artistic displays reflecting the richness and authenticity of Moroccan heritage.
  • It paid tribute to the daughter of football legend Pelé.
  • It featured a special appearance by national coach Walid Regragui.

 

The HEAVENT AWARDS are a prestigious international event that recognizes excellence in the event industry.

 

The awards are held annually in Cannes, France, and attract some of the biggest names in the event industry from around the world.

 

The award for Best Ceremony is one of the most coveted awards at the HEAVENT AWARDS.

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It is a testament to the quality and creativity of the opening ceremony of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup that it was awarded this prestigious prize.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Real Madrid survive Dortmund scare to reach Club World Cup semis

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FIFA Club World Cup - Quarter Final - Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. - July 5, 2025 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores their third goal past Borussia Dortmund's Gregor Kobel REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

Real Madrid edged past Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a dramatic Club World Cup quarter-final on Saturday to set up a last-four clash with Paris St Germain.

The Spanish giants stamped their authority on the match early at the MetLife Stadium, dominating possession and opening a two-goal lead thanks to strikes by Gonzalo and Fran Garcia in the 10th and 20th minutes.

Gonzalo, the 21-year-old forward continuing his breakout tournament, opened the scoring with a close-range volley from Arda Guler’s cross.

Ten minutes later, Garcia doubled Real’s lead, arriving at the far post to turn in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s low delivery after an incisive move down the right.

Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. squandered chances to extend Real’s lead before halftime, while Aurelien Tchouameni came closest in the second half, rattling the crossbar with a curling effort from the edge of the box.

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Despite the reduced intensity of play in New Jersey’s scorching heat, Real comfortably saw out the match, leaving Dortmund unable to mount a comeback until the game exploded into life in 10 minutes of mayhem in added time.

Substitute Maximilian Beier pounced on a rebound in the 93rd minute to pull one back for Dortmund, but a minute later Kylian Mbappe restored Real’s two-goal cushion with a stunning volley.

Dortmund refused to back down, however, and Serhou Guirassy’s pace saw him break through Real’s defence only to be pulled down in the box by Dean Huijsen.

The defender was shown a straight red card, ruling him out of the semi-final, and Guirassy coolly converted the resulting spot-kick to reduce the deficit to 3-2.

Dortmund came within inches of forcing extra time when in the ninth minute of added time Thibaut Courtois produced a sensational save to deny Marcel Sabitzer’s powerful strike.

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“We were doing really well and the match looked under control but then in the last 10 minutes things got crazy,” Real manager Xabi Alonso told DAZN.

“We have lost a little bit our focus and intensity when we didn’t have the ball and luckily nothing else happened. But overall we have had good 80 minutes and the last 10 minutes to improve.”

Real Madrid now turn their attention to PSG, who defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 to book their place in the semi-finals. The winners of that clash will face Fluminense or Chelsea, who meet on Tuesday, in the final.

Reuters

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Exemplary Dembele steps up again to inspire depleted PSG

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FIFA Club World Cup - Quarter Final - Paris St Germain v Bayern Munich - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. - July 5, 2025 Paris St Germain's Ousmane Dembele celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Paris St Germain snatched a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich on Saturday to reach the Club World Cup semi-finals, with Ousmane Dembele embodying the composure of Luis Enrique’s side as he sealed the victory when his team were down to nine men.

Dembele found the back of the net six minutes into added time after being superbly set up by Achraf Hakimi and the French forward also shone defensively by pressing relentlessly and initiating the move that led to his decisive goal.

“I’d give the Ballon d’Or to Mr Ousmane Dembele,” coach Luis Enrique said after PSG’s Champions League final win over Inter Milan. “The way he defended…only that can be worth the Ballon d’Or. This is how you lead a team.”

Dembele proved his coach right once again against Bayern.

Rested for the group stage after sustaining a thigh injury and only coming off the bench after halftime in the last 16 and in the quarter-final, Dembele brought an incredible energy to a team who had been dominated by Bayern.

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“It’s an important period for us. We had a score to settle with Bayern after the 2020 (Champions League) final (won by Bayern 1-0) and after they beat us earlier this season,” captain Marquinhos said. “We want to win this competition.”

PSG went ahead through Desire Doue, his first goal in the tournament.

“I try to help the team by scoring, but also with my efforts, notably defensively,” Doue said.

PSG, seeking a quadruple of titles after winning the Champions League, French Cup and the Ligue 1 title, will face Borussia Dortmund or Real Madrid for a place in the final.

They will be without centre back Willian Pacho and defender Lucas Hernandez, who picked up straight red cards after Doue’s opening goal.

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“The first one is a clear red card,” coach Luis Enrique said. “I’m not sure about the second one. We deserved the win but it was really really hard. Nothing special. Business as usual.”

-Reuters

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Late own goal sends Chelsea past Palmeiras into semi-finals

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 FIFA Club World Cup - Quarter Final - Palmeiras v Chelsea - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. - July 4, 2025 Palmeiras' Vitor Roque reacts with Chelsea's Pedro Neto REUTERS/Lee Smith

An 83rd-minute Weverton own goal from a deflected Malo Gusto cross gave Chelsea a nervy 2-1 win over a spirited Palmeiras side in the Club World Cup quarter-finals at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday.

Cole Palmer also got on the scoresheet in the first half for Chelsea, who move on to face more Brazilian opposition in Fluminense in New York on Tuesday with a place in the final on the line.

Palmeiras roared back after halftime with teenage winger Estevao, who is soon to join Chelsea, equalising in the 53rd minute with a stunning strike from a tight angle.

“Tough game as we expected,” said Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. “First half, I think we were a little bit better compared to the second half, we controlled the game much better.

“But then they scored and the game changed but at the end we scored and I think we deserved to win. Congratulations to the players, because they have been very good.”

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Chelsea started the match well despite missing key defensive midfield duo Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, with 21-year-old Andrey Santos making his first start some two and a half years after joining the club.

They controlled possession and repeatedly threatened through Pedro Neto, who caused chaos for Palmeiras defence down the right flank.

Palmer struck in the 16th minute, receiving a pass from Trevoh Chalobah on the edge of the box and gliding past three defenders with ease before dispatching a precise left-footed strike into the bottom corner.

Despite their dominance, Chelsea squandered several opportunities, including Christopher Nkunku’s glaring miss in the 34th minute when he blasted over with only goalkeeper Weverton to beat.

Palmeiras, missing key defenders Joaquin Piquerez, Gustavo Gomez and Murilo, struggled to contain Chelsea’s fluid attack in the first half but emerged from the break with renewed energy.

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They nearly equalised when Bruno Fuchs headed narrowly wide from a corner before Estevao worked his magic with an effort that should be a strong candidate for goal of the tournament so far.

The 18-year-old showcased his immense talent by cutting in from the right, gliding past Levi Colwill and smashing an unstoppable shot from a tight angle that flew over keeper Robert Sanchez and off the underside of the crossbar.

“Happy because we won, happy because he scored, so it’s a perfect night,” Maresca said of his new signing.

Just when Palmeiras looked at their most dangerous, though, Chelsea found the winner down the other end.

Gusto found space down the left and his attempted cross deflected off defender Fuchs and wrongfooted Weverton, the ball bouncing off the goalkeeper’s back and into the net to end Palmeiras dreams of an all-Brazilian semi-final.

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-Reuters

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