[SJJ]

This thread was getting some interesting discussion before BigSoc did its database rewind. So here we go again:

I advocated a 16-team tournament held every two years: in the odd-number years since the evens are used by the WC and the various continental championships. [Isn't even the Concacaf Gold Cup going to a four-year cycle?]

Breakdown: Europe (4), South America (4), North America (2), Asia (2), Africa (2), Oceania (1), Host Country (1).

EUR and SA would send their first- and second-place teams for a two-year cycle. NA, Asia, and AFR would send their two champoins. Oceania would have a playoff from their two champions. The host country's last champion would qualify.

This would cut travel some, because players would make only one more world-wide trip in two years, instead of two trips in two years.

I did change my view on one thing: I previously advocate the WC-style of four-team groups [three games per team] followed by seven knockout games (31 matches overall, or 32 with a third-place game).

But after reading some posts advocating a single-elmination format (for example, of only the six continental winners), I will change my format to a 16-team single-elimination tournament (totalling, of course, 15 or 16 matches).

Players wouldn't have to have another nearly-monthlong tournament to battle. Would be TV-friendly right from the start. The eight non-Euro and non-SA teams would have their one chance against the big boys.

Another benefit of this is that more countries would have the chance to host a FIFA senior-team championship. You probably wouldn't need to play all your games in 40K+ stadia, several 30+ or less could do, so more countries would be eligible without building ten new fields.

The only drawback of holding a biennial tournament is that you will need to know the qualifiers at least 6 months early. Some teams may qualify 2+ years before the tournament. [i.e. the April 2003 and 2004 continental champions would make the July 2005 tournament.]

A 16-team single-elimination tourney, every two years, seems like a good format. It would be a great replacement for the FIFA Confederations Cup.

[Maczebus]

I wouldn't.

Hell, the players need a summer break sometime.
UK players don't even get a winter break.

[Sachin]

I host one on my PS2.

Sachin

[Bauser]

A club tournament just can't occupy the summer. It's a dead end already there. We can't expect the players to stay at their clubs 12 months a year. The best clubs in Europe have had a tough nine month season behind them. The last thing they want to do when the regular season is over in May is to prepare for another cup which is due to take place during their summer vacation. A Cup which will be of considerably lower quality than the Champions League they finished a month earlier. Expect the Real Madrids and Manchester Uniteds to send their junior squads.

A World Club Cup tournament just isn't interesting. It doesn't even look tempting on paper.

I have said this many times before: The last thing this sport needs is more tournaments!

[SoccerScout]

I originaly created the thread.

All I will say is that a World Club Championship SHOULD be the Championship everyone wants to see their team in...should be but unfortunetly isnt. People seem to be more interested in having a British champ or German Champ than a WORLD champ, makes little sense, but seems to be what people want. Im surprised that people care at all about a World Cup based on there attitudes about a World Club Cup. (Spare me the 1000 year tradition of the Premier league bla bla bla....tradition has to start somewhere , sometime)

I would pay and love to watch a true world club cup. Screw it that there isnt time...MAKE TIME for a WORLD championship!! Jesus its a world championship! It should be the ULTIMATE title. All championships should lead to it. The schedule just needs to be redone.


After a variety of national championships I would bring

4 Euros
4 South Americans
2 NA/CA
2 Asia
2 Africa
1 Host nation club
1 rest of the world

Get them all at a year end 2 1/2 Week tournament at a predetermined location. Not much different than the 2000 held in Rio de Janeiro. People say nobody cared but you need to continue doing it until people start to care.

I was extremely dissapointed that the 2002 Spain cup in which the Galaxy was to play in was canceled, that was messed up.



Its a shame.

[Maczebus]

And just how do you figure that the loyal fan bases of these teams actually go and support their respective teams?

[SportBoy321]

A World Club Championship would be as about exciting as the Confederations Cup.

[Nobby]

To recap, post-hack...

UEFA and CONMEBOL club champions currently participate in the Toyota Cup. To build on this, add the other four confed champs. I proposed a single elimination tournament with the European and South American teams skipping the first round. Three matches maximum for the lesser confeds and a two-match commitment from the two major powers. Five games total played in a week and there you have it, a true World Club Cup.

Yes, it'd be a bore to many, but not everyone. It might take place far from home, but fans could fly there by airplane or watch on TV. This sport needs just one more tournament. Meaningless matches played in empty stadiums is what soccer is about sometimes.

[AFCA]

Fact is that the European and S.A. top teams are

a) with much more, making the CL or the other C.L. (funny, never noticed that till now) stronger than this tournament would be

b) Quite a lot better than their counterparts

And about the travelling thing.

Sure, there will be some fans who will fly all the way over the globe. But it will never be like it is now where several hundreds up to several thousands make the trip.

a) Money
b) Tradition. Sorry to have to bring this up again, but European fans kinda 'know' each other. There are sure as hell inter-European rivalries and friendships. A lot of the fans not only travel to a match, but also to the other fans. This can be a good reason to favor certain matches over the others. I don't think many people will be very interested in meeting with African fans or Asian fans. Their football culture is different and less interesting to Europeans and South Americans.

So all in all I don't believe it would ever be a real succes.

[Oscar]

A World Club Championship would be as about exciting as the Confederations Cup.