FIFA Confederations Cup
 | |
| Founded | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Region | International (FIFA) |
| Number of teams | 8 (from 6 confederations) |
| Current champions |
 Brazil (4th title) |
| Most successful team(s) |
Brazil (4 titles) |
| Website | Official website |
 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup | |
The FIFA Confederations Cup is an international association football tournament for national teams, currently held every four years by FIFA. It is contested by the holders of each of the six FIFA confederation championships (UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF, AFC, OFC), along with the FIFA World Cup holder and the host nation, to bring the number of teams up to eight.
Since 2005, the tournament has been held in the nation that will host the FIFA World Cup in the following year, acting as a rehearsal for the larger tournament. Brazil hosted the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup from 15 to 30 June, which they won by defeating Spain 3–0 in the final for a record fourth title.
History and details
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The tournament was originally organized by and held in Saudi Arabia and called the King Fahd Cup (Confederations Winners Cup or Intercontinental Championship), contested in 1992 and 1995 by the Saudi national side and some continental champions. In 1997, FIFA took over the organization of the tournament, named it the FIFA Confederations Cup and staged the competition every two years.[1]
Since 2005, it has been held every four years, in the year prior to each World Cup in the host country of the forthcoming World Cup (the 2001 edition was hosted in South Korea and Japan, before the quadrennial pattern was established). Considered a dress-rehearsal for the World Cup it precedes, it uses around half of the stadia intended for use at the following year's competition and gives the host nation, which qualifies for that tournament automatically, experience at a high level of competition during two years of otherwise friendlies. At the same time, participation was made optional for the South American and European champions.[2]
Generally, the host nation, the World Cup holders, and the six continental champions qualify for the competition. In those cases where a team meets more than one of the qualification criteria (such as the 2001 tournament where France qualified as the World Cup champions and European champions), another team is invited to participate, often the runner-up in a competition that the extra-qualified team won.
On four occasions teams have chosen not to participate in the tournament. Germany did so twice, first in the 1997 Confederations Cup after their victory in the Euro 1996, and again in the 2003 Confederations Cup when they were awarded a place as the 2002 World Cup runners-up. In 1997, Germany were replaced by 1996 runners-up Czech Republic, and in 2003 they were replaced by Turkey, the 2002 third place team.
France, 1998 World Cup winners, declined their place in the 1999 Confederations Cup, and were replaced by Brazil, the 1998 World Cup runners-up (and also 1997 Copa América champions). Italy, UEFA Euro 2000 runners up, declined their place in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup.
An earlier tournament existed that invited former World Cup winners, the Mundialito, or Lloyd Griffin which celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the first World Cup. The Artemio Franchi Trophy, contested in 1985 and 1993 between the winners of the Copa América and UEFA European Football Championship, was also another example of an earlier contest between football confederations. Both of these are considered by some to be a form of an unofficial precursor to the Confederations Cup, although FIFA recognised only the 1992 tournaments onwards to be Confederations Cup winners.[3]
Format
The 8 qualified teams are ranked, with a draw, in two round-robin groups: two teams of same confederation cannot be drawn in a group. Every team faces others once, for three games: the group stage is followed by a knockout phase.
- Semifinals:
- 1st placed group A - 2nd placed group B
- 1st placed group B - 2nd placed group A
- Finals:
- Third place playoff: Loser 1st semifinal - Loser 2nd semifinal
- Final: Winner 1st semifinal - Winner 2nd semifinal
Tie-breaker criterials are:
- Head-to-head record
- Goal difference
- Number of goals scored
- Draw
For semifinals and finals, if the score is drawn at the end of regular time the match ends with overtime or shoot-out.
Results
King Fahd Cup
| Year | Host | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Third place | Score | Fourth place | Number of teams | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 Details |
 Saudi Arabia [upper-alpha 1] |
 Argentina |
3–1 | Saudi Arabia |
 United States |
5–2 |  Ivory Coast |
4 | |||
| 1995 Details |
Saudi Arabia [upper-alpha 1] |
 Denmark |
2–0 | Argentina |
 Mexico |
1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4p) |
 Nigeria |
6 |
- 1 2 The first two editions were in fact the defunct King Fahd Cup. FIFA later recognized them retroactively as Confederations Cups; see tournament archive.
FIFA Confederations Cup
| Year | Host | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Third place | Score | Fourth place | Number of teams | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Details |
Saudi Arabia |
Brazil |
6–0 |  Australia |
 Czech Republic |
1–0 |  Uruguay |
8 | |||
| 1999 Details |
Mexico |
Mexico |
4–3 | Brazil |
United States |
2–0 | Saudi Arabia |
8 | |||
| 2001 Details |
 South Korea Japan |
 France |
1–0 | Japan |
Australia |
1–0 | Brazil |
8 | |||
| 2003 Details |
France |
France |
1–0 (a.e.t.) |  Cameroon |
 Turkey |
2–1 |  Colombia |
8 | |||
| 2005 Details |
 Germany |
Brazil |
4–1 | Argentina |
Germany |
4–3 (a.e.t.) | Mexico |
8 | |||
| 2009 Details |
 South Africa |
Brazil |
3–2 | United States |
 Spain |
3–2 (a.e.t.) | South Africa |
8 | |||
| 2013 Details |
Brazil |
Brazil |
3–0 | Spain |
 Italy |
2–2 (a.e.t.) (3–2p) |
Uruguay |
8 | |||
| 2017 Details |
 Russia |
8 |
Teams reaching the top four
| Team | Winners | Runners-up | Third Place | Fourth Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil |
4 (1997, 2005, 2009, 2013*) | 1 (1999) | – | 1 (2001) |
| France |
2 (2001, 2003*) | – | – | – |
| Argentina |
1 (1992) | 2 (1995, 2005) | – | – |
| Mexico |
1 (1999*) | – | 1 (1995) | 1 (2005) |
| Denmark |
1 (1995) | – | – | – |
| United States |
– | 1 (2009) | 2 (1992, 1999) | – |
| Australia |
– | 1 (1997) | 1 (2001) | – |
| Spain |
– | 1 (2013) | 1 (2009) | – |
| Saudi Arabia |
– | 1 (1992*) | – | 1 (1999) |
| Japan |
– | 1 (2001*) | – | – |
| Cameroon |
– | 1 (2003) | – | – |
| Czech Republic |
– | – | 1 (1997) | – |
| Turkey |
– | – | 1 (2003) | – |
| Germany |
– | – | 1 (2005*) | – |
| Italy |
– | – | 1 (2013) | – |
| Uruguay |
– | – | – | 2 (1997, 2013) |
| Ivory Coast |
– | – | – | 1 (1992) |
| Nigeria |
– | – | – | 1 (1995) |
| Colombia |
– | – | – | 1 (2003) |
| South Africa |
– | – | – | 1 (2009*) |
- *: hosts
Records and statistics
References
- ↑ "FIFA Confederations Cup" (PDF).
- ↑ "2005/2006 season: final worldwide matchday to be 14 May 2006". FIFA. 19 December 2004. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ↑ "Intercontinental Cup for Nations". RSSSF. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
External links
- FIFA Confederations Cup, FIFA.com
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