Every December, FIFA hosts a Club World Cup in relative obscurity, and I have never understood why.
The World Cup, for both the men’s and women’s versions, captivate the entire world. It was on display again this summer when the U.S. Women’s National Team took on Donald Trump, while the English women delivered ratings that surpassed even the Champions League in the United Kingdom.
So when I read that FIFA was looking to develop a true Club World Cup starting in 2021, I was immediately intrigued. Finally, I thought, we’re getting somewhere. How cool would it be to have each country send their best team to find out which club is truly the best in the world.
Of course, in true FIFA fashion, it’s going nowhere quickly. The initial proposal for a 24-team Club World Cup was opposed by UEFA, as FIFA also wanted to create a “worldwide Nations League” that is obviously a threat to Europe’s Champions League.
Furthermore, FIFA wants to set up the Club World Cup like the actual World Cup, with several slots granted to each Confederation, such as UEFA or CONCACAF, and allowing each group to devise their own way of determining representatives.
It’s a mess before it’s even started, which is a shame, because developing a FIFA Club World Cup should be so easy.
32 Teams, not 24
The most curious aspect of FIFA’s current plan is to limit the number of teams to 24. Why, exactly? FIFA has been desperate to push the Men’s World Cup to 48 teams, despite 32 being a perfect number that has provided awesome entertainment since the format was instituted. A 24-team tournament, with eight groups of three, leads to a constant awkwardness of scheduling since three is not easily divisible by two.
The first aspect of my plan is to invite 32 teams, not 24. This seems to be common sense. Eight groups of four with the top two in each group advancing to the knockout stage. That’s not hard, right?
Focus On Leagues, not Confederations
The best players in a specific country don’t usually play in that specific country. Yes, Asia and Africa deserve multiple spots in a World Cup determined by the home country of a player. But that’s not the Club World Cup. Most of the best players in Asia and Africa do not play in Asia and Africa.
From that perspective, the Club World Cup should focus on which leagues are best and determine how many spots each league should get to produce the best field possible.
League Table Qualification, not Tournaments
The current plan seems to be giving out Club World Cup spots by who wins the confederation’s main tournament, i.e. the Champions League. While this seems like a good idea on the surface, it reduces who can qualify to a very, very select few. If there are only going to be eight teams from Europe, you could probably name those eight clubs right now based on Champions League success. What’s the fun in that?
Instead, I believe the qualification for the Club World Cup should be a running four-year table of league success. Sure, there are leagues that are dominated by one team, but not all. Imagine the EPL over four years if only two teams get to play in the World Cup. Or even a lesser league like MLS, with every American team striving to be the one team that gets the global spotlight. How cool would that be?
Play the First (Every?) Tournament in the United States
Every summer, the International Champions Cup and assorted friendlies come to the Untied States. Almost none of them are interesting. These are exhibition games, not true friendlies. These are preseason games for teams to get ready for their real seasons ahead. Still, American fans are rabid to see these games.
Now imagine if these games meant something. Think about all the football stadiums in the United States that would make a perfect venue for a big-time soccer game. It almost makes too much sense. In fact, it may make sense to play every FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
My 32-Team Field
With that in mind, I believe the 32 teams should come from the best leagues, based on an agreed upon league rating. This global rating isn’t official, but I used it for this exercise. If FIFA wants to go in this direction, they could create their own league ranking system that will be used to determine the teams.
Based on those rankings, here’s how the breakdown would go:
10 spots: 2 teams from the top 5 leagues
I realize that the key complaint would be the high number of teams from Europe, but the reality is that the best club football is being played in Europe right now. Potentially, the Club World Cup could change things by giving clubs from countries like Colombia, or the United States, or China, an opportunity to play real matches against these goliaths.
Regardless, the most popular teams in the world happen to be the most popular teams in Europe. That’s not a bad thing. That’s potential to be exploited.
It would also help “smaller” leagues by providing a massive influx in money for participating and giving teams who have global dreams, whether in the board room or the transfer market, something to shoot for.
For leagues that don’t make the initial cut, the four-year qualification process would also be a four-year testing ground for them to increase the quality of their play and make the cut. Based on the movement of leagues, the initial makeup of the tournament as laid out here could be adjusted.
What My 2021 Club World Cup Could Look Like
Group A
I want to see the best teams in Europe play the best teams in South America in games that matter.
I want to see the best Mexican and American clubs get a shot at the best clubs in Europe in games that matter.
I want to see a summer Club competition that, once very four years, stops the world.
I know FIFA will almost certainly screw it up. I can still fantasize about what could be.
Follow me on Twitter
So when I read that FIFA was looking to develop a true Club World Cup starting in 2021, I was immediately intrigued. Finally, I thought, we’re getting somewhere. How cool would it be to have each country send their best team to find out which club is truly the best in the world.
Of course, in true FIFA fashion, it’s going nowhere quickly. The initial proposal for a 24-team Club World Cup was opposed by UEFA, as FIFA also wanted to create a “worldwide Nations League” that is obviously a threat to Europe’s Champions League.
Furthermore, FIFA wants to set up the Club World Cup like the actual World Cup, with several slots granted to each Confederation, such as UEFA or CONCACAF, and allowing each group to devise their own way of determining representatives.
It’s a mess before it’s even started, which is a shame, because developing a FIFA Club World Cup should be so easy.
32 Teams, not 24
The most curious aspect of FIFA’s current plan is to limit the number of teams to 24. Why, exactly? FIFA has been desperate to push the Men’s World Cup to 48 teams, despite 32 being a perfect number that has provided awesome entertainment since the format was instituted. A 24-team tournament, with eight groups of three, leads to a constant awkwardness of scheduling since three is not easily divisible by two.
The first aspect of my plan is to invite 32 teams, not 24. This seems to be common sense. Eight groups of four with the top two in each group advancing to the knockout stage. That’s not hard, right?
Focus On Leagues, not Confederations
The best players in a specific country don’t usually play in that specific country. Yes, Asia and Africa deserve multiple spots in a World Cup determined by the home country of a player. But that’s not the Club World Cup. Most of the best players in Asia and Africa do not play in Asia and Africa.
From that perspective, the Club World Cup should focus on which leagues are best and determine how many spots each league should get to produce the best field possible.
League Table Qualification, not Tournaments
The current plan seems to be giving out Club World Cup spots by who wins the confederation’s main tournament, i.e. the Champions League. While this seems like a good idea on the surface, it reduces who can qualify to a very, very select few. If there are only going to be eight teams from Europe, you could probably name those eight clubs right now based on Champions League success. What’s the fun in that?
Instead, I believe the qualification for the Club World Cup should be a running four-year table of league success. Sure, there are leagues that are dominated by one team, but not all. Imagine the EPL over four years if only two teams get to play in the World Cup. Or even a lesser league like MLS, with every American team striving to be the one team that gets the global spotlight. How cool would that be?
Play the First (Every?) Tournament in the United States
Every summer, the International Champions Cup and assorted friendlies come to the Untied States. Almost none of them are interesting. These are exhibition games, not true friendlies. These are preseason games for teams to get ready for their real seasons ahead. Still, American fans are rabid to see these games.
Now imagine if these games meant something. Think about all the football stadiums in the United States that would make a perfect venue for a big-time soccer game. It almost makes too much sense. In fact, it may make sense to play every FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
My 32-Team Field
With that in mind, I believe the 32 teams should come from the best leagues, based on an agreed upon league rating. This global rating isn’t official, but I used it for this exercise. If FIFA wants to go in this direction, they could create their own league ranking system that will be used to determine the teams.
Based on those rankings, here’s how the breakdown would go:
10 spots: 2 teams from the top 5 leagues
- England
- Spain
- Italy
- Germany
- France
- Russia
- Portugal
- Belgium
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- Brazil
- Argentina
- Denmark
- Austria
- Croatia
- Switzerland
- United States
- Czech Republic
- Greece
- Scotland
- Sweden
- Poland
- Colombia
- Serbia
- South Africa
- China
- Norway
- Cypress
- Israel
- Bulgaria
- Romania
I realize that the key complaint would be the high number of teams from Europe, but the reality is that the best club football is being played in Europe right now. Potentially, the Club World Cup could change things by giving clubs from countries like Colombia, or the United States, or China, an opportunity to play real matches against these goliaths.
It would also help “smaller” leagues by providing a massive influx in money for participating and giving teams who have global dreams, whether in the board room or the transfer market, something to shoot for.
For leagues that don’t make the initial cut, the four-year qualification process would also be a four-year testing ground for them to increase the quality of their play and make the cut. Based on the movement of leagues, the initial makeup of the tournament as laid out here could be adjusted.
What My 2021 Club World Cup Could Look Like
Group A
- Manchester City (ENG)
- Napoli (ITA)
- New York Red Bulls (USA)
- Al Nassr FC (KSA)
- Barcelona (ESP)
- Benfica (POR)
- Kobenhavn (DEN)
- Deportes Tolima (COL)
- Atletico Madrid (ESP)
- Genk (BEL)
- Palmeiras (BRA)
- Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR)
- Juventus (ITA)
- Tigres (MEX)
- Red Bull Salzburg (AUT)
- AIK (SWE)
- Liverpool (ENG)
- Shakhtar (UKR)
- Young Boys (SUI)
- Shanghai East Asia (CHI)
- Bayern Munich (GER)
- Lille (FRA)
- Maribor (CRO)
- PAOK (GRE)
- Dortmund (GER)
- Zenit (RUS)
- Ajax (NED)
- Celtic (SCO)
- PSG (FRA)
- Galatasaray (TUR)
- Racing Club (ARG)
- Slavia Praha (CZE)
I want to see the best teams in Europe play the best teams in South America in games that matter.
I want to see the best Mexican and American clubs get a shot at the best clubs in Europe in games that matter.
I want to see a summer Club competition that, once very four years, stops the world.
I know FIFA will almost certainly screw it up. I can still fantasize about what could be.
Comments
Post a Comment