2020 FIFA Club World Cup: Tournament News & Qualifiers [R]

Who will make it to Qatar?



UEFA: Round-of-16
CONMEBOL: Not Started
CONCACAF: Not Started
AFC: Not Started
CAF: Group Stage
OFC: Not Started
Host: Matchday 11

Random Thoughts:

• It's the first time in UEFA Champions League history that all the clubs in the Round-of-16 are from the "Big Five" European leagues

• The UEFA Champions League final will be played in Istanbul (Turkey)

• The Copa Libertadores final will played in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

• CAF will also introduce a single game final at a predetermined site (to be announced)

 

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)

Clubs with Multiple Titles

7 - Real Madrid (ESP)
4 - AC Milan (ITA)
3 - 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
4 - Germany
3 - England
3 - Netherlands
2 - Portugal
1 - Paraguay
1 - Serbia

Titles by Confederation

33 - 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 5)
3rd: 2000, 2005, 2012, 2017, 2019

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

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 (19 Titles)
3. Uruguay (8 Titles)

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

CONCACAF

1. Mexico (35 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 (11 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 (14 Titles)
2. DR Congo; Morocco; Tunisia (6 Titles)
3. Algeria; Cameroon (5 Titles)

Record Champion: Al Ahly, Egypt (8 Titles - Last in 2013)

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:
14 – 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.

 

Does that mean the CWC will be played in a venue with less than 10K capacity?

(Al Duhail's home ground has a capacity of 9K)

 

Still no combo with the CAF Champions League. No North African winner went on to play for the likes of Al Hilal in Asia?

 

Even more important than VAR are the infrastructure, flight connections and general affordability for traveling fans. It's one thing hosting two North African clubs at a North African host. The moment you throw in a Sub-Saharan club or host this single match scenario becomes a nightmare to pull off.

I am certain CONCACAF are flirting with the idea of giving the CCL final the "Gold Cup treatment" - i.e. all US all the time.

Compared to the dark days of the Champions Cup the CCL now has the attention/recognition of the casual Mexican fan-base in the US.

 

Looks like the Chinese Super League may struggle to get the same level of foreign players going forward. That could impact their ACL performance.

So after tax wages are capped at GBP 2M (GBP 1.1.M for domestic players) but don't seem to include bonuses. Overall spending of clubs is capped at GBP 121M and only 60% of that can go towards wages. That's still a very healthy figure of GBP 72M that can be spent on players. I guess big bonuses is the way forward.

 

Opening match is perfectly fine at Al Duhail's stadium - but not the quarterfinal doubleheader. That one, in my opinion, requires at least 20K capacity.

 

The first AFC qualifying round has been played and Chennai City, the last I-League champion to represent India in the ACL before the ISL gains that privilege, is already eliminated at the hands of Bahrain's Riffa.

Further cementing the ISL takeover as India's top flight is the merger between traditional Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan (I-League) with ATK (ISL). I suppose East Bengal will now also look for a way into the ISL so that the long-standing Kolkata derby may continue.

On the political front, the Irani FA is threatening to pull all of its clubs from the ACL after being denied hosting home matches in the 2020 ACL.

 

The AFC is facing two issues with the 2020 ACL. Politics involving Iran and the coronavirus. As a result Iranian and Chinese clubs will play their first three group stage matches away and then the AFC will reassess the situation for potential home matches. In qualifying the Iranian clubs played their home matches in the UAE. Speaking of qualifying, Melbourne Victory raised eyebrows by eliminating Kashima Antlers away.

In CAF there is one matchday left in the group stage. However, advancement is all but decided. Only Etoile Sahel and Sudan's Al Hilal are still fighting over the last place in the quarterfinals.

 

The CAF group stage has concluded and the quarterfinals are drawn:

Al Ahly (Egypt) - Mamelodi Sundowns (S. Africa)
Raja Casablanca (Morocco) - TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
Zamalek (Egypt) - Esperance Tunis (Tunisia)
Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) - Etoile Sahel (Tunisia)

No real upsets in the group stage. Wydad must be itching to get back to the final.

 

@glennaldo_sf - First game, first goal for Mario Mandžukić in the ACL:



Andres Iniesta also set up three goals in his first ACL match:



All matches involving Chinese clubs have been rescheduled due to the coronavirus. This could become a scheduling nightmare for the AFC, especially if the concerns don't subside.

 

In UEFA and CONCACAF the R16 matches start today.

In the OFC the group stage has begun. Defending champions Hienghene started with a 4:1 defeat to Vanuatu's Au Bon Marche Galaxy.

New Zealand has a new representative this year. Eastern Suburbs AFC is the second club next to Auckland City.

 

Well, LAFC didn't fare too well in their first competitive international match ever in team history. I suggest you hold on to the sombrero you purchased at the Monterrey CWC stand last year.



In an irritating turn of events I forgot about the visit of defending Asian champs Al Hilal to Dubai this week (to play Shabab Al Ahli). Wanted to attend that one but it's been a very busy week at work and I got distracted.

Yes, I am aware that Switzerland is going to Doha for two friendlies next month. But I just got confirmation, from the UEFA ticket lottery, that I will be seeing them at the Euros in June in Baku against Turkey. Very excited about that one!

 

The first ever single site CAF Champions League final will be in either Tunisia or Morocco after Rwanda pulled its bid.

Yep.