2021 FIFA Club World Cup: Tournament News & Qualifiers [R]

Who will make it to Japan?



UEFA: Round-of-16
CONMEBOL: Not Started
CONCACAF: Not Started
AFC: Not Started
CAF: Group Stage
OFC: Not Started
Host: Not Started

Random Thoughts:

• All confederations with the exception of the AFC now have single leg finals. I question the sense of that, particularly for CAF and CONCACAF. Supposedly CONCACAF will have the final at the "higher ranked" team but I can't help but think that this is just a stop on the way to the Gold Cup treatment (i.e. all USA all the time) which I for one would find terrible.
• The AFC Champions League has expanded to 40 teams this year. This benefits the likes of India, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines - populous countries that have not managed to have many representatives. The AFC also introduced a new logo for the competition.
• The CONCACAF Champions League is very stretched out this year, ending in October. So stretched out in fact that there will be two months between the semis and final.
• The OFC have, as of today, not communicated anything on how they plan to play the OFC Champions League this year.

 

Tournament Winners & Statistics:

Intercontinental Cup

1960 Real Madrid (ESP)
1961 Peñarol (URU)
1962 Santos (BRA)
1963 Santos (BRA)
1964 Inter Milan (ITA)
1965 Inter Milan (ITA)
1966 Peñarol (URU)
1967 Racing Club (ARG)
1968 Estudiantes (ARG)
1969 AC Milan (ITA)
1970 Feyenoord (NED)
1971 Nacional (URU)
1972 Ajax Amsterdam (NED)
1973 Independiente (ARG)
1974 Atlético Madrid (ESP)
1975 No competition
1976 Bayern Munich (GER)
1977 Boca Juniors (ARG)
1978 No competition
1979 Olimpia (PAR)

Toyota Cup

1980 Nacional (URU)
1981 Flamengo (BRA)
1982 Peñarol (URU)
1983 Grêmio (BRA)
1984 Independiente (ARG)
1985 Juventus (ITA)
1986 River Plate (ARG)
1987 FC Porto (POR)
1988 Nacional (URU)
1989 AC Milan (ITA)
1990 AC Milan (ITA)
1991 Red Star Belgrade (SER)
1992 São Paulo (BRA)
1993 São Paulo (BRA)
1994 Vélez Sarsfield (ARG)
1995 Ajax Amsterdam (NED)
1996 Juventus (ITA)
1997 Borussia Dortmund (GER)
1998 Real Madrid (ESP)
1999 Manchester United (ENG)
2000 Boca Juniors (ARG)
2001 Bayern Munich (GER)
2002 Real Madrid (ESP)
2003 Boca Juniors (ARG)
2004 FC Porto (POR)
[Merger with Club World Cup*]

Club World Cup

2000 Corinthians (BRA)
2001 No competition
2002 No competition
2003 No competition
2004 No competition
[Merger with Toyota Cup*]
2005 São Paulo (BRA)
2006 Internacional (BRA)
2007 AC Milan (ITA)
2008 Manchester United (ENG)
2009 FC Barcelona (ESP)
2010 Inter Milan (ITA)
2011 FC Barcelona (ESP)
2012 Corinthians (BRA)
2013 Bayern Munich (GER)
2014 Real Madrid (ESP)
2015 FC Barcelona (ESP)
2016 Real Madrid (ESP)
2017 Real Madrid (ESP)
2018 Real Madrid (ESP)
2019 Liverpool (ENG)
2020 Bayern Munich (GER)

Clubs with Multiple Titles

7 - Real Madrid (ESP)
4 - AC Milan (ITA)
4 - Bayern Munich (GER)
3 - Boca Juniors (ARG)
3 - FC Barcelona (ESP)
3 - Inter Milan (ITA)
3 - Nacional (URU)
3 - Peñarol (URU)
3 - São Paulo (BRA)
2 - Ajax Amsterdam (NED)
2 - Corinthians (BRA)
2 - FC Porto (POR)
2 - Independiente (ARG)
2 - Juventus (ITA)
2 - Manchester United (ENG)
2 - Santos (BRA)

Titles by Association

11 - Spain
10 - Brazil
9 - Argentina
9 - Italy
6 - Uruguay
5 - Germany
3 - England
3 - Netherlands
2 - Portugal
1 - Paraguay
1 - Serbia

Titles by Confederation

34 - UEFA
26 - CONMEBOL

Note: FIFA has recognized all winners of the Intercontinental/Toyota Cup, played between 1960 and 2004, as club world champions.

 

"Emerging Confederations" Top Three Placements:

AFC (Total 7)
2nd: 2016, 2018
3rd: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015

CONCACAF (Total 6)
2nd: 2020
3rd: 2000, 2005, 2012, 2017, 2019

CAF (Total 4)
2nd: 2010, 2013
3rd: 2006, 2020

OFC (Total 1)
3rd: 2014

 

A few confederation stats...

UEFA

1. Spain (18 Titles)
2. England (13 Titles)
3. Italy (12 Titles)

Record Champion: Real Madrid, Spain (13 Titles - Last in 2018)

CONMEBOL

1. Argentina (25 Titles)
2. Brazil (20 Titles)
3. Uruguay (8 Titles)

Record Champion: CA Independiente, Argentina (7 Titles - Last in 1984)

CONCACAF

1. Mexico (36 Titles)
2. Costa Rica (6 Titles)
3. El Salvador (3 Titles)

Record Champion: Club America, Mexico (7 Titles - Last in 2016)

AFC

1. South Korea (12 Titles)
2. Japan (7 Titles)
3. Saudi Arabia (5 Titles)

Record Champion: Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia (3 Titles - Last in 2019); Pohang Steelers, South Korea (3 Titles - Last in 2009)

CAF

1. Egypt (15 Titles)
2. DR Congo; Morocco; Tunisia (6 Titles)
3. Algeria; Cameroon (5 Titles)

Record Champion: Al Ahly, Egypt (9 Titles - Last in 2020)

OFC

1. New Zealand (12 Titles)
2. Australia* (4 Titles)
3. New Caledonia; Papua New Guinea (1 Title)

Record Champion: Auckland City, New Zealand (9 Titles - Last in 2017)

*Australia is no longer a OFC member.

 

Longest consecutive winning streak in each confederation's premier club competition:

CONCACAF:
15 – Mexico (ongoing)

OFC:
8 – New Zealand (end of streak 2018)

UEFA:
6 – England (end of streak 1982)

CONMEBOL:
4 – Argentina (end of streak 1970 and 1975); Brazil (end of streak 2013)

AFC:
3 – South Korea (end of streak 1998)

CAF:
3 – Cameroon (end of streak 1980)


Longest consecutive winning streak at the club level:

7 – Auckland City, OFC (end of streak 2017)
5 – Real Madrid, UEFA (end of streak 1960)
4 – Independiente, CONMEBOL (end of streak 1975)
3 – CF Monterrey, CONCACAF (end of streak 2013)
3 – Cruz Azul, CONCACAF (end of streak 1971)

No clubs in Africa or Asia have won more than two in a row.

 

And if you think that is a lot, CONCACAF is expanding to 50 teams in 2023:



It's basically a bloated "back to the future" format that is reminiscing the days where the three geographic regions (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) were kept apart until the latter stages of the tournament.

Great for MLS and Liga MX - not so great for the rest. How is a Caribbean club supposed to gain valuable experience (playing only regional peers) to overcome a North American team in the knockout rounds?

Then again, 2023 is still far away. It wouldn't be the first time CONCACAF makes some big announcement to then quietly scale back their original plans.

 

Al Ahly's first assignment after finishing third at the 2020 CWC was "Matchday 1" in the CAF Champions League group stage where they met Sudan's Al Merreikh:



Elsewhere in UEFA, PSG have one foot in the quarterfinals after beating Barcelona 4:1. Of course, it wouldn't be the first time that is said.

(See La Remontada of 2017)

 

Years of reckless spending have caught up with the Chinese Super League.

Defending champions Jiangsu Suning have ceased operations with immediate effect. Shandong Luneng has already been expulsed from the ACL due to “overdue payables”.

 

UEFA CL Quarterfinals:



We are getting a rematch of the 2020 final...

According to today's FIFA Council Agenda the 2021 CWC dates were supposed to be agreed today. Don't see them yet however.

 

First Legs:

Manchester City - Dortmund 2:1
Porto - Chelsea 0:2
Bayern - PSG 2:3
Real Madrid - Liverpool 3:1

Great match in Munich. Looking forward to the second leg.

 

Here are a few updates...

UEFA Semis
Real Madrid - Chelsea
Manchester City - PSG

Defending UCL and CWC champions Bayern are out. PSG got their revenge.

CONCACAF Quarters
Portland Timbers (USA) - Club America (MEX)
Atlanta United (USA) - Philadelphia Union (USA)
Columbus Crew (USA) - CF Monterrey (MEX)
Toronto FC (CAN) - Cruz Azul (MEX)

MLS with a very strong start. Is the this the year @Paul Calixte?

CAF Quarterfinalists
Simba SC (Tanzania)
Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)
Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
Espérance Tunis (Tunisia)
Al Ahly (Egypt)
CR Belouizdad (Algeria)
Kaizer Chiefs (RSA)
MC Alger (Algeria)

Draw is on April 30. Last year's finalist Zamalek did not progress.

 

In Asia the Western group stage is currently being played in centralized venues. It's the first time an Indian club (Goa) plays in the group stage and it's the first time India is being represented by a team from the Indian Super League after the league took over "first division status" from the I-League.

Goa did well all things considered, played Qatar's Al Rayyan to a scoreless draw:

 

Well, after events in the past few days I can only say "Allez PSG!"

After two scoreless draws FC Goa finally found its master in 2020 finalist Persepolis. But not before scoring the first Indian club goal ever in the ACL group stage.

 

But enough about FC Goa. There is another league besides the ISL showing itself for the first time in the AFC CL group stage thanks to the expansion to 40 teams. The Tajikistan Higher League.

And what a representative they have sent.

Ever heard of FC Istiklol? Neither have I.

Well - Al Hilal, the 2019 Asian Champions, have made the acquaintance. And there was no "lol" in it for them in that encounter:



Istiklol have seven points from four matches and are leading the group!

 

Various updates...

UEFA - Semis
Real Madrid - Chelsea 1:1
PSG - Manchester City 1:2

Return legs start tomorrow.

CONCACAF - Quarters
Atlanta (USA) - Philadelpha (USA) 0:3
Toronto (CAN) - Cruz Azul (MEX) 1:3
Columbus (USA) - Monterrey (MEX) 2:2
Portland (USA) - Club America (MEX) 1:1

Return legs start on Wednesday.

CAF Quarterfinal Draw
Al Ahly (Egypt) - Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)
MC Alger (Algeria) - Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
CR Belouizdad (Algeria) - Esperance (Tunisia)
Kaizer Chiefs (RSA) - Simba (Tanzania)

Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane will face his old club.

In the AFC, the Western group stage also concluded.

 

And we have an all-English final in UEFA...

Manchester City - Chelsea FC

Will Chelsea get a second shot at the CWC after 2012 or will Manchester City win their first ever UEFA Champions League? Funnily enough, Chelsea beat City in the FA Cup semis this year. Otherwise Pep Guardiola could have flirted with beating his own 2009 Barcelona sextuple with a septuple. I suppose City can still win six titles in 2021, but the League Cup over the FA Cup is a definite downgrade compared to Barcelona and Bayern's sextuple.

In CONCACAF the semis are set as of last night:

Club America (MEX) - Philadelphia Union (USA)
CF Monterrey (MEX) - Cruz Azul (MEX)

All three Mexican clubs have previously participated in the CWC. What started as a promising year for MLS now looks like the usual Liga MX showcase. Only newcomers Philadelphia are left, the only MLS team that didn't have Mexican opposition in the quarters.



The CCL is now on pause and the semis will be played in August.

 

CAF Quarters, First Leg:
Al Ahly (Egypt) - Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) 2:0
MC Alger (Algeria) - Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) 1:1
CR Belouizdad (Algeria) - Esperance (Tunisia) 2:0
Kaizer Chiefs (RSA) - Simba (Tanzania) 4:0





Bit surprising to see Kaizer Chiefs take such a commanding lead given they are only 10th in the South African Premier Division right now.

Also, the UCL final has been moved from Istanbul to Porto.

 

The CAF semis are...

Esperance (Tunisia) - Al Ahly (Egypt)
Kaizer Chiefs (RSA) - Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)

Kaizer Chiefs the only unusual name in there but they will have to play a lot better than in the quarterfinal return leg (3:0 loss) to upset the African elite.



Tonight is the UCL final between Chelsea and Man City.

 

Chelsea continue to ruin what could have been a perfect Man City season and win their second UCL in club history after 2012. Guardiola just can't win the UCL win a team not named FC Barcelona. This means that Chelsea get a chance to redeem themselves for the 2012 Club World Cup loss to Corinthians.

 

2021 OFC Champions League also cancelled:
https://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc-competitions-calendar-rescheduled/

Frankly, I don't want to see a OFC representative. The intended inclusion of Auckland City last year already had far-fetched reasoning behind it. How could they possibly justify it this year? Auckland City as "record champions"?

Keep it at six clubs. Like the 2020 edition.

 

CAF Semis, First Leg:
Esperance (Tunisia) - Al Ahly (Egypt) 0:1
Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) - Kaizer Chiefs (RSA) 0:1

Two away wins which was especially surprising with Kaizer Chiefs. They are the only "big three" South African team to have never won the CAF CL.