FIFA Confederations Cup

FIFA Confederations Cup
Founded 1992 (1992)
Region International (FIFA)
Number of teams 8 (from 6 confederations)
Current champions  Brazil (4th title)
Most successful team(s)  Brazil (4 titles)
Website Official website
2017 FIFA Confederations Cup

The FIFA Confederations Cup is an international association football tournament for national teams, currently held every four years by FIFA. It is contested by the holders of each of the six FIFA confederation championships (UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF, AFC, OFC), along with the FIFA World Cup holder and the host nation, to bring the number of teams up to eight.

Since 2005, the tournament has been held in the nation that will host the FIFA World Cup in the following year, acting as a rehearsal for the larger tournament. Brazil hosted the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup from 15 to 30 June, which they won by defeating Spain 3–0 in the final for a record fourth title. However, 2022 FIFA World Cup host Qatar will not host 2021 FIFA Confederations Cup as announced by FIFA in 2015 due to Qatar's high temperatures during the summer period. This is the first edition, since the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, that the tournament host is not hosting the next FIFA World Cup.

History and details

Germany against Brazil in the Grundig-Stadion in Nuremberg, Germany in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup
A FIFA Confederations Cup choropleth map showing countries' best results (colours as shown) and host countries (yellow dots).

The tournament was originally organized by and held in Saudi Arabia and called the King Fahd Cup (Confederations Winners Cup or Intercontinental Championship), contested in 1992 and 1995 by the Saudi national side and some continental champions. In 1997, FIFA took over the organization of the tournament, named it the FIFA Confederations Cup and staged the competition every two years.[1]

Since 2005, it has been held every four years, in the year prior to each World Cup in the host country of the forthcoming World Cup (the 2001 edition was hosted in South Korea and Japan, before the quadrennial pattern was established). Considered a dress-rehearsal for the World Cup it precedes, it uses around half of the stadia intended for use at the following year's competition and gives the host nation, which qualifies for that tournament automatically, experience at a high level of competition during two years of otherwise friendlies. At the same time, participation was made optional for the South American and European champions.[2]

Generally, the host nation, the World Cup holders, and the six continental champions qualify for the competition. In those cases where a team meets more than one of the qualification criteria (such as the 2001 tournament where France qualified as the World Cup champions and European champions), another team is invited to participate, often the runner-up in a competition that the extra-qualified team won.

On four occasions teams have chosen not to participate in the tournament. Germany did so twice, first in the 1997 Confederations Cup after their victory in the Euro 1996, and again in the 2003 Confederations Cup when they were awarded a place as the 2002 World Cup runners-up. In 1997, Germany were replaced by 1996 runners-up Czech Republic, and in 2003 they were replaced by Turkey, the 2002 third place team.

France, 1998 World Cup winners, declined their place in the 1999 Confederations Cup, and were replaced by Brazil, the 1998 World Cup runners-up (and also 1997 Copa América champions). Italy, UEFA Euro 2000 runners up, declined their place in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup.

An earlier tournament existed that invited former World Cup winners, the Mundialito, or Copa de Oro which celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the first World Cup. The Artemio Franchi Trophy, contested in 1985 and 1993 between the winners of the Copa América and UEFA European Football Championship, was also another example of an earlier contest between football confederations. Both of these are considered by some to be a form of an unofficial precursor to the Confederations Cup, although FIFA recognised only the 1992 tournaments onwards to be Confederations Cup winners.[3]

Format

The 8 qualified teams are ranked, with a draw, in two round-robin groups: two teams of same confederation cannot be drawn in a group, except if there are three teams of the same confederation (something that happened for the first time in the 2017 edition with Russia, host, Germany, world champions, and Portugal, European champions). Every team faces others once, for three games: the group stage is followed by a knockout phase.

Tie-breaker criterials are:

  1. Head-to-head record
  2. Goal difference
  3. Number of goals scored
  4. Draw

For semifinals and finals, if the score is drawn at the end of regular time the match ends with overtime or shoot-out.

Results

King Fahd Cup

The first two editions were in fact the defunct King Fahd Cup. FIFA later recognized them retroactively as Confederations Cups; see tournament archive.

Year Host Winner Score Runner-up Third place Score Fourth place Number of teams
1992
Details		  Saudi Arabia
Argentina		 3–1
Saudi Arabia
United States		 5–2
Ivory Coast 		4
1995
Details		  Saudi Arabia
Denmark		 2–0
Argentina
Mexico		 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4p)
Nigeria		 6

FIFA Confederations Cup

Year Host Winner Score Runner-up Third place Score Fourth place Number of teams
1997
Details		  Saudi Arabia
Brazil		 6–0
Australia
Czech Republic		 1–0
Uruguay 		8
1999
Details		  Mexico
Mexico		 4–3
Brazil
United States		 2–0
Saudi Arabia 		8
2001
Details		  South Korea
 Japan
France		 1–0
Japan
Australia		 1–0
Brazil 		8
2003
Details		  France
France		 1–0 (a.e.t.)
Cameroon
Turkey		 2–1
Colombia 		8
2005
Details		  Germany
Brazil		 4–1
Argentina
Germany		 4–3 (a.e.t.)
Mexico 		8
2009
Details		  South Africa
Brazil		 3–2
United States
Spain		 3–2 (a.e.t.)
South Africa 		8
2013
Details		  Brazil
Brazil		 3–0
Spain
Italy		 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(3–2p)
Uruguay 		8
2017
Details		  Russia 8

Teams reaching the top four

Team Winners Runners-up Third Place Fourth Place
 Brazil 4 (1997, 2005, 2009, 2013*) 1 (1999) – 1 (2001)
 France 2 (2001, 2003*) – – –
 Argentina 1 (1992) 2 (1995, 2005) – –
 Mexico 1 (1999*) – 1 (1995) 1 (2005)
 Denmark 1 (1995) – – –
 United States – 1 (2009) 2 (1992, 1999) –
 Australia – 1 (1997) 1 (2001) –
 Spain – 1 (2013) 1 (2009) –
 Saudi Arabia – 1 (1992*) – 1 (1999)
 Japan – 1 (2001*) – –
 Cameroon – 1 (2003) – –
 Czech Republic – – 1 (1997) –
 Turkey – – 1 (2003) –
 Germany – – 1 (2005*) –
 Italy – – 1 (2013) –
 Uruguay – – – 2 (1997, 2013)
 Ivory Coast – – – 1 (1992)
 Nigeria – – – 1 (1995)
 Colombia – – – 1 (2003)
 South Africa – – – 1 (2009*)
*: hosts

Records and statistics

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA Confederations Cup" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "2005/2006 season: final worldwide matchday to be 14 May 2006". FIFA. 19 December 2004. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "Intercontinental Cup for Nations". RSSSF. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
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