▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁Al ▁Ain ▁which ▁celebrated ▁the ▁ 5 0 th ▁anni versary ▁particip ating ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁FIFA ▁Club ▁World ▁Cup , ▁representing ▁the ▁host ▁nation ▁as ▁the ▁reign ing ▁champions ▁of ▁the ▁U AE ▁Pro - Le ague , ▁Al ▁Ain ▁defeated ▁Copa ▁Libert adores ▁champions ▁River ▁Pl ate ▁by ▁pen alt ies ▁hosted ▁in ▁home ▁stad ium ▁Haz za ▁Bin ▁Z ay ed ▁Stadium ▁to ▁enter ▁the ▁final ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁in ▁team ▁history ▁and ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁Em ir ati ▁club ▁to ▁reach ▁the ▁decis ive ▁match . ▁The ▁final , ▁on ▁ 2 2 ▁December , ▁was ▁lost ▁ 4 – 1 ▁to ▁UEFA ▁Champions ▁League ▁w inners ▁Real ▁Madrid ▁at ▁the ▁Z ay ed ▁Sports ▁City ▁Stadium ▁in ▁Ab u ▁D hab i . ▁ ▁Squad ▁list ▁Play ers ▁and ▁squad ▁numbers ▁last ▁updated ▁on ▁ 2 0 ▁September ▁ 2 0 1 9 . Note : ▁Fl ags ▁indicate ▁national ▁team ▁as ▁has ▁been ▁defined ▁under ▁FIFA ▁el ig ibility ▁rules . ▁Play ers ▁may ▁hold ▁more ▁than ▁one ▁non - FI FA ▁national ity . ▁ ▁Pre - season ▁ ▁Mid - season ▁ ▁Compet itions ▁ ▁Over view ▁ ▁{ | ▁class =" wik itable " ▁style =" text - align : ▁center " ▁| - ▁! row span = 2 | Comp et ition ▁! col span = 8 | Record ▁! row span = 2 | Start ed ▁round ▁! row span =