The stage is officially set for the Club World Cup final on Thursday, and the matchup carries plenty of intrigue for fans of Concacaf and MLS.
Tigres UANL's history-making 1-0 win over Palmeiras in their semifinal matchup on Sunday ensures that a Concacaf team will have a chance to win the tournament for the first time ever and achieve a monumental milestone.
But to do so, they'll have to top one of the best teams in the world, as German giants Bayern Munich officially clinched their spot in the final with a 2-0 win over Egyptian foe Al Ahly in their Monday semifinal matchup. That means that a face familiar to MLS fans will have a chance to help his team to another trophy in former Vancouver Whitecaps homegrown star and Bayern Munich defender Alphonso Davies.
Davies started and played all 90 minutes of Monday's victory, showing flashes of the dynamic two-way skillset that led to his rise on the world stage last season. Whether he can help his club to some more silverware as one storyline to keep an eye on in a matchup that features plenty of star power between Bayern's perennially loaded lineup and a Tigres side motivated to make more history, led by in-form French striker Andre- Pierre Gignac.
Completing the MLS connections, Tigres also have an MLS homegrown product on their team in defender Carles Salcedo. The Mexico international came through Real Salt Lake's academy and played there for two seasons at the start of his career.
The final will air Thursday at 1 pm ET on FS1.
