Confederation Cup –What, How and Why?

Confederation cup football tournament started on 15 June in Brazil. This twenty year old tournament is known as the curtain riser for the World Cup and was started as King Fahd Cup and later adopted by FIFA and named it Confederation Cup. It was running as a tournament which occurs every three year, but from 2009 onwards FIFA decided to make it every four year and planned it happens one year prior to the World Cup year. It is considered as a dress rehearsal for the host country to prove its preparedness to conduct the real one. In 2001 it was held in South Korea and Japan where 2002 World Cup was held and Germany and South Africa hosted 2005 and 2009 tournaments who were the World Cup hosts for 2006 and 2010 respectively.

What is the relevance of this Confederation Cup? Is there any extra significance carried with it? Or, it is just a money making effort by the International football federation?

The first couple of years it was organised by Saudi Arabia not FIFA and it was a bye-pass for Saudi football team to compete with the champions of all continents. Before the takeover by FIFA it was known as King Fahd Cup and the takeover in 1997 renamed it as Confederation Cup. It was held in a gap of three years initially and in 2005 FIFA made it every four year and positioned it just one year ahead of the World Cup. The international football governing body fixed the same venue of the next World Cup finals for the Confederation Cup. The tournament is based on competition between the Champions of each divisions based on 6 FIFA continental zones (Asia, Africa, South America, North and Central America and Caribbean, Europe, and Oceania) and the winner of World cup along with the host nation. The loser in the game plan was Saudi Arabia who lost their privileged position as organiser and later lost their position to Japan who started dominating Asian football region. 

In the beginning, none of the football powers were serious about Confederation Cup. Many of them thought that it is a meaningless exercise on the tight football calendar and considered it as part of FIFA’s greed. Three times European Champion and 1992 UEFA cup winner Germany declined its participation twice and 1998 World Cup winner France declined to participate in the 1999 edition of Confederation Cup. 2006 World Champions Italy approached this cup without any seriousness and lost in all matches in the first round itself and went out. On the other hand, Brazil took it seriously each time and won the cup thrice. Italy is lucky to participate in the 2013 edition of Confederation because Spain the winner of UEFA championship is also holding the status of World Cup winner. Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini put his words to show the seriousness of Italian team for the present edition by saying... "Four years ago in South Africa we didn't approach [the Confederations Cup] properly and we paid the price," and "being together for a month provides a great chance to improve – we know that now.(Doyle, Paul June 2013)"

Slowly and steadily, FIFA gained the confidence of powerful football nations for the Confederation Cup. FIFA made it sure that the Champions of the regions will definitely whether they are big or small countries, with or without football tradition, will appear for the Confederation Cup. Tahiti’s participation makes this edition of the tournament more beautiful. They are the champions of Oceania region who overcome New Zealand, traditionally powerful football nation in the region. Africa is emerging as the football production house of European leagues and the green brigade of Nigeria represents the region. Japan is representing Asia for many years in this tournament but it is difficult to find another one to replace them at this movement.

Interestingly, there are some facts saying that the winners of Confederation cup won’t lift the World Cup. In 2005 and 2009 editions the winner was Brazil but they failed to perform similarly in the followed World Cups. France won the Confederation cup in 2001 and 2003 editions but both were after their World Cup and UEFA Cup victories. Spain won their second European title in 2008, appeared in 2009 edition of Confederation cup and satisfied with third place. But, they used this experience for the next World Cup, held in South Africa, and repeated the show in 2012 European Championship by winning both.

If Spain win this Confederation Cup in Brazil, then their team manager Vicente del Bosque will end up as the most successful manager in Spanish history. If he repeats his world cup success in Brazil, he will end up as the most successful manager in World Cup history. This is not the time to discuss such things and there is a long way to go for Spain and other countries to be there in Brazil 2014.

Relevance of Confederation Cup is nowhere near to any other tournaments organised by FIFA. Yes, football lovers will watch the game but not with the enthusiasm for World Cup, Euro or Copa America. In India, the land of Cricket, IPL and controversies the media is least bothered about Confederation Cup. Still, it has some relevance just because it brings the champions of all football zones along with the world champion Spain and great football nation as host –Brazil.

P.S. Vicente del Bosque was kicked out by Florentino Perez, the Chairman of Real Madrid in 2002 by saying his style is very old and ineffective. Real Madrid won two Champions League titles under his management in 2000 and 2002 and they were the last for them. Perez openly said that Del Bosque is not the person to handle his valuable ‘Galacticos’ and need to move ahead with modern managers. Result –Real Madrid never won any more Champions League trophies after Vicente del Bosque and they saw nearly a dozen managers passed through the revolving door of the club. During last one decade, only twice they managed to win league championship that also with the managers who prefer to follow negative tactics – Fabio Capello and Jose Mourinho.