When do we think the Club World Cup will actually evolve into a competition taken seriously over here in Europe? I think FIFA is doing the right thing in the mid term by trying to give it some stability, i.e. keeping the current format but increasing the prize money and soon allowing other countries to host it. However I think in the long term I think its plain to see that it will never be taken seriously without more teams in it. A few years down the line I hope to see the finalists of each continent taking part rather than just the winners. In the long term IMO (I’m talking 15 years perhaps more) I think it should become a 16 team competition modelled after the Champions League played over the course of the season. Unrealistic? I don’t know, maybe. There’s the whole issue of fixture congestion that crops up, an issue that seems to entirely disappear when money is to be made out of something. The Champions League used to have a second group stage, presumably to squeeze as much money out of television broadcasters and the paying customer as possible, and I gather the top European clubs weren’t none too happy when the second group stage was scrapped. If they thought there was money to be made out of a larger Club World Cup played over the season I’m betting fixture congestion would suddenly become a non-issue. Then there’s the whole flight and journey time issue, but given that civilian airlines will probably continue to get faster etc... Jet lag is a big issue now but might not be so in years to come. Of course there’s also the argument that European teams simply wouldn’t be interested in playing non-European teams on their own turf. Its true that European teams like to play other big European teams, but I don’t believe that a group stage game at home to Boca Juniors would be any less attractive for one of the European super teams than a group stage game at home to Levski Sofia would be. My idea for a future CWC would be for the better continental competitions to have more teams qualify for the CWC than the lesser ones. E.g. in a 16 team competition, 8 from UEFA, 4 from CONMEBOL, 2 from CONCACAF, 2 from CAF and 2 from AFC (merged with OFC). Two of the top European teams in each of four groups would make the group stage more attractive to European fans, meanwhile games against Boca, Pachuca and LA Galaxy etc would IMO be no less attractive than games against Levski and Shakhtar etc Obviously I’m not talking about this happening in the short term, but I think in the long term it would help it to become a lucrative competition, and if the money men think there’s something to be had out of it, it will happen.
Totally disagree, the introduction of the Champions League is whats starting to kill the game. Football was much better when it was European Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners Cup. The introduction of a World Champiosnhip in the Champions League style would just be another nail in the coffin for the sport.
Then why was the more lucrative second group stage scrapped? That's right - fixture congestion. Money is important but so is the health of the players. The current CWC format is fine in my opinion and should not exceed eight teams as an annual competition. The problem is a lot of people look to FIFA to fill the gap created by their respective confederation at the club level. Rather than wait for a FIFA handout the confederations in question should be pushed and held responsible to create prestigious continental competitions on their own. Pointing to Europe and complaining that they should share the wealth is looking for the easy way out. It's not Europe's fault the club game hasn't grown as well elsewhere. I say combine the Americas and AFC/OFC to create four strong confederations. Then put some serious effort into bringing these 'Champion Leagues' up to standard.
Yeah, but come on. He does have a point. His proposal for an increased CWC could bring in more money and be terrible for football fans. IOW, there's a good chance it'll happen. Health of the players isn't a high priority in today's game. Look at Bundesliga clubs playing countless friendly matches right through their winter "break". I don't think civilian airplanes are any faster today than 25 years ago. Takes me just as long to fly to Europe, I know that much. It's not economical to build faster passenger planes.
Fixture congestion becomes even more serious when the teams have to fly halfway around the world into a different time zone for a fixture... flight from London to LA is what? 20 hours or so? That alone is a reason why I doubt that there will be a CWC with home and away matches before beaming gets invented. And I really think you are underestimating the fixture congestion, the big European teams already play twice a week most of the time. And there need to be an occasional free date to fill in delayed matches (eg Milan this year). There are not enough free dates... group stage, qf, sf, final would be 11 matches, that's not possible, even if the participating teams scrap their domestic cups. The only chance I'd see would be to give up nt football. To conclude: home and away CWC won't happen. The best you could hope for is to extend the tournament to 2 or 3 weeks, with 4-5 matches for the Europeans (eg 4 groups of 4, winners of each group play the semi finals)
I believe the only way for the CWC to be taken seriously is if the UEFA Champions League becomes the CWC. Like have a knockout stage where there's like 24 Euro teams and 8 rest of the world teams. Then Europeans will be forced to care about the CWC, since there wouldn't be a European championship anymore. And if you think what I just said is ridiculous, I agree, it is, and it won't or shouldn't happen. But IMO, that's the only way the CWC will gain respect.
Its going to take time. You cant expect it to me prestigious after 4 tournaments. I honestly dont think europeans will ever care. It would be like having a true world series with champions from Asia and the Caribbean taking on the Sox. None of us americans would care and if they lost we would still consider them the best of the baseball world.
you guys are all wrong. Changing the fixture, the format or the style of CWC will not effect the prestigenous of CWC. What will cause CWC into a global tournament, is the internationalization of the Game. Once Africa, North America and Asia wins the world cup, and once the economies of the poorest nations grow to support youth soccer teams, football will become a true world language. As we progress into such a stage, and as more people start watching their local teams, CWC will gain importance, much like what world cup is today, and perhaps much more. Do not live in denial. Europe and South America will dominate the game for decades to come, but sometime in the 21st century, a so called "minnow" nation will win the world cup.
I'm not so sure about that... the big European leagues and especially the CL giants are increasingly global... The best nts from South America and Africa already have most of their players playing in Europe, if say Ivory Coast wins the next WC, Chelsea will benefit more than the Ivory Coastian (?) domestic league or leagues, whatever they have there. Even with a stronger economies, the big European leagues and clubs already have such a big advantage in global marketing that it needs a miracle for another league to catch up. I guess it's not impossible, a lot can happen in 50 years, and Blatters home player rule might help a bit if it will ever be approved, but it's still a situation similar to Basketball, there are pro leagues elsewhere in the world, but there is so much prestige and money in the NBA that despite notable success and popularity of the German nt recently and even most nt players playing in Germany, us Germans still rather watch the NBA than the Basketball Bundesliga, and usually a player that gets a contract in America will leave.
it has a future, but European teams must be part of the preliminary rounds. thye can't just join at the semi final stage
No, I haven't watched those particular friendles. What's your point though? What difference does it make if I watch them? The players aren't getting the break they need. (Remember that the German-league season starts very early - late July - so this is supposed to be the one nice break per year that players get) I've seen the summer friendlies though and many first-team players are travelling half-way around the world and playing in matches during their summer "break" to the detriment of their health, just so that the club can make a few more million dollars (e.g. the friendly preseason tournaments in the USA & Asia).
My point is that these friendlies are gloryfied training matches. Subs get loads of playtime, noone gives everything, it's only trying out some tactics that are being trained. It's not comparable to competetive matches. And there were never 6 weeks holidays for the players intended or wanted, they are off duty for roughly 2 weeks over Christmas and New Year (which is different elsewhere in Europe, where the players are not home for christmas) and after that, it's pretty much the same as in preseason, only a bit shorter. Also, you shouldn't forget that the Bundesliga is the last big league with 18 teams and 4 matchdays less than the rest, which makes up for at least as much of the winter break as the slightly earlier start. Arguably, having only one preparation time in summer and starting later into the season is better than having a short winter break and starting earlier in the summer, and doing the preseason stuff 2 times a year, however since the qualification round 3 for CL and UC is played around the same time as the Bundesliga start (even a bit earlier), so the teams with most competetive matches start their season early anyway, which is why I'm not so sure if the late start of the league is of any help. Nevertheless, it's in discussion to change the league timetable in Germany, I guess that sooner or later we'll have 20 teams and no winter break, too.
There is a lot of truth to this. Simpy enlarging the CWC won't make the European public care. Until the other 'Champion Leagues' obtain the same status as the UEFA one, the average European won't ask himself how his club stacks up against the Pohang Steelers for example.
I agree. Until the other continents can hold on to their talent their competitions will always look inferior. Imagine if all the best players in Europe went to La Liga I would imagine in that scenario most La Liga fans wouldnt really concern themselves with the Champions League as the continents best play in their league.
true. I should said no one joins at he semi finals. 8 teams, 2 groups one game against each. each group winner plays for the title.
Yah but with 8 teams youll get a possible world champ whos never won their continental cup a la corinthinas. For me the two confederations repersented in the previous final should get the semi final bye. Either that or have OFC/AFC merger and CONMEBOL/CONCACAF Merger and youll have a perfect 4 teams.
You've never followed a Copa Libertadores have you? I would say it's every bit as exciting as the Champions League especially in the earlier rounds. I won't attempt to comment on other confederations. For all the talent that we can't seem to hold onto, we seem to have done well in the CWC as well as the Intercontinental Cup so your holding onto talent contention goes out the window.
first of all you need to unify the calendar of all leagues in the world, at least to CWC be helded at the final of the international calendar.
If you look at the sentence you underlined i said "looks inferior" as in perception not what I feel. As far as the intercontinetal cup its no big secret it meant more to south america than europe.
Every team that is added to the CWC damages it deeply. It should be the six regional champions. Period. It is fine the way it is now. Who cares what Europeans think. It is the champion of the world on a club level. Period.
My bad You are correct, it does mean more to us South American fans than it does European fans. However European players find it to be a very important match as witnessed recently by Ancelottis comments.
I definetly think especially after Milans performance the euro base teams do want to win it and hopefully their desire will spill over to their fans. But I could personally care less if Europeans care about this or not theres 5 other continents who teams and fans do care about this tournament.