Mostly because of its great tradition and it was a venture done outside of FIFA's jurisdiction. Some of the great matches that I recommend you watch below. Flamengo vs Liverpool 1981 Penarol vs Aston Villa 1982 Argentinos Juniors vs Juventus 1985 Penarol vs Porto 1987 Nacional vs PSV Eindhoven 1988 Atletico Nacional vs AC Milan 1989 Sao Paolo vs Barcelona 1992 Sao Paolo vs AC Milan 1993 River Plate vs Juventus 1996 Boca Juniors vs Real Madrid 2000
Back when South American stars would stay long enough to make a name for themselves before jumping the pond...nowadays you string together a month of good games and Real Madrid's already knocking at your door (see: Vinícius).
I might check some of those out. I sympathize with the sentiment of staying outside FIFA; however, at least FIFA have the format spot on. In today's world, you have to include the world. Watching Asian, North American, and African teams adds as much pleasure to this competition for me as the South American teams do. The knockout nature means excitement and pressure, and the two games max means the UEFA team stays interested. My only complaint is the hosting should be more creative. FIFA should not just go to sponsor-friendly Japan and the Gulf states, they should also go to historic soccer hotspots or give an extra event to help with stadium building for World Cup hosts. Mexico City and Guadalajara , a couple of different Brazilian and South African cities, maybe Miami or New York, maybe even Athens or Instanbul, or Morocco. I'd stay away from countries with major leagues (no English or Spanish cities, you already get to see the best in the world), and in large countries I'd stick to regions and two or three stadiums. I think you get a great atmosphere, and thus a better in TV product, in, say, Cairo, Egypt; or Johannesburg, South Africa. Especially if the tickets are priced affordably (pipe dream, I know).
Real Madrid is a team of mercenaries with no identity. The funny thing is they think the South American players give a damn about the club other than the money.
I have to be fair and admit that this doesn't help: In his open letter, outgoing Chile NT coach Pizzi asserted that the WCQ screw-ups in September (0 pts vs. Paraguay and @ Bolivia) were his fault for burning out the A-team at the Confederations Cup.
It could have been a contributing factor but I think Paraguay and Bolivia would have beaten them anyway.
So sad they won't be there. They been the team to beat the last 3 years at tournaments. Even in 2014, Brazil barely made it out alive ... pks. Plus their fans are imo the best and loudest while still being respectful.
FIFA may replace Confederations Cup with new club competition: https://www.google.ae/amp/uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUKKBN1CW1O1
According to FIFA their fans have not been as respectful as you depict. I would say that is a bigger reason as to why they are not in the World Cup. They had to play qualifiers in a stadium that is not their fortress due to their fan behavior.
Chile were sanctioned by FIFA to play one home match (against Bolivia on 6 September 2016) away from Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago due to homophobic chants by the team’s fans, with a possible ban on a second match subject to a probation period of two years.[12] Since Chile committed another infringement during this period, a second match ban on playing at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos will be served (against Venezuela on 28 March 2017).[13] Chile was sanctioned with a ban on playing at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos for two further matches (against Paraguay on 31 August 2017 and against Ecuador on 5 October 2017) after similar incidents.[14]
Going back on topic, I am trying to figure out if a quadrennial World Cup of Clubs with a bunch of teams would be something people care about. Maybe if they held it in the USA instead of the current Summer Champions Cup friendly crap tournament it would gain some traction. But it would mostly have to be Euro , Mexican and South American teams participating for them to make the big bucks in the States.
And since people around here will complain about it being in the USA every four years maybe they should emulate what the International Champions Cup does and have part of the tournament in Asia too. (Or whoever else wants to host it.)
From that article: ...so how would expanding the CWC solve that problem? European club football is head and shoulders above the rest of the world and will remain so for the foreseeable future. In essence, the Confederations Cup is far more competitive ("What about Brazilian domination?")...um, more open to non-European winners
Please breh, don't give any credence to a quadrennial CWC. It would be the worst thing to happen to football, it really would. Imagine if the Super Bowl was quadrennial, the 85 Bears would qualify, but they'd have to send the 89 Bears to the SB tourney. The 89 Bears were far inferior to the 85 version, it've been ridiculous and we'd never know if the 85ers would be SB champs. 09 Barca would have to send 2013 Barca, who were different at that point. It's all bollox. #keeptheCWCannual
Well, the thread is about the New Club tournament replacing the Confederations so the way I understood it... ... the Confederations being every four years, this Club tournament would be every for year too right? Maybe in addition to the Club World Cups we already have? I have no idea.
This article has more details: http://www.espnfc.com/blog/fifa/243...up-could-replace-confederations-cup-infantino Infantino talks about a decision in March.
The USA would make a fine host but I would absolutely hate a scenario where there is a permanent host in some ridiculous club version of the Gold Cup. Of course I dislike the idea of a quadrennial Club World Cup as it is.
As I alluded to in another post it would probably be best if they regionalize it as they do the Champions Cup. Some Group Stage matches in Asia would be fine. Some in Europe of course (But I am not sure Europeans will care enough to come out and see teams outside their Confederation.) Knowing Infantino and how close he is to Gulati I could see them saying it will be in the USA the majority of the time. At least the big knockout stage matches.
http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-club-worl...24-team-club-world-cup-to-be-played-in-summer says: "FIFA is exploring expanding the Club World Cup to 24 teams from June 2021, a member of the ruling council said on Monday. The revamped tournament could open with three groups of eight teams and be played over 18 days." The article doesn't describe a format, but it would be way too little rest for players to have them play seven group games and knockout rounds for some of them in 18 days. If the three group winners and one more club advanced to the Semifinals, the finalists would play every other day for 18 days.
I know you're quoting but surely that should 8 groups of 3 teams. MD1(Day 1-3)-MD2(Day4-6)-MD3(Day7-9)-QF(day11-12)-SF(Day15)-F(Day18) Tight schedule still, but possible. J
Germany: The Confederations Cup is clogging up the football calendar, get rid of it! FIFA: Sure thing, we'll just replace it with an expanded Club World Cup. Germany: Thank - NO! Not like that!
So FIFA thinks the CWC hasn't gained much traction because of the time of year? lol So FIFA thinks a knockout tournament that couldn't gain much traction will be more successful when a group stage and dead-rubber matches are added? lol
FIFA may be crazy but they are not stupid. They know that it can gain more traction in the Summer when it applies to their pocket books. During that dead period Television Networks will pay more knowing that it won't conflict with their domestic television products.