FIFA Confederations Cup

FIFA Confederations Cup
Founded 1992
Region International (FIFA)
Number of teams 8
Current champions  Brazil (3rd title)
Most successful team  Brazil (3 titles)
Website Official site

The FIFA Confederations Cup is an 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.

Contents

History and details

The tournament was originally organised 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 organisation of the tournament, named it the FIFA Confederations Cup and staged the competition every two years.

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. 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, who qualifies for that tournament automatically, experience at a high level of competition during two years of friendlies. At the same time, participation was made optional for the South American and European champions.[1]

When the World champion is also winner of its confederation championship, then the confederation championship runner-up also enters the Confederations Cup, ensuring eight teams for the tournament.

On three occasions teams have chosen not to participate in the tournament. The UEFA Euro 1996 winner Germany declined its place in the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup, and was replaced by the Czech Republic, the runner-up in that tournament. France, 1998 FIFA World Cup winner, declined in the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup, and was replaced by Brazil, the 1998 World Cup runner-up (and also 1997 Copa America champion). Germany, the runner-up in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, chose not to participate in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, and was replaced by Turkey, the third place team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

An earlier tournament existed that invited former World Cup winners, the Mundialito, or Copa D'Oro which celebrated the fifty year anniversary of the first World Cup. The Artemio Franchi Trophy, contested in 1985 and 1993 between the winners of the Copa America 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 recognized only the 1992 tournaments onwards to be Confederations Cup winners.[2]

Results

For finals including both Artemio Franchi Trophy and Confederations Cup statistics, see detailed finals.

King Fahd Cup

Year Host Final Third Place Match
Winner Score Runners-up Third Place Score Fourth Place
1992 [3]
Details
 Saudi Arabia
Argentina
3–1
Saudi Arabia

United States
5–2
Côte d'Ivoire
1995 [3]
Details
 Saudi Arabia
Denmark
2–0
Argentina

Mexico
1–1
(5–4 pens.)

Nigeria

FIFA Confederations Cup

Year Host Final Third Place Match
Winner Score Runners-up Third Place Score Fourth Place
1997
Details
 Saudi Arabia
Brazil
6–0
Australia

Czech Republic
1–0
Uruguay
1999
Details
 Mexico
Mexico
4–3
Brazil

United States
2–0
Saudi Arabia
2001
Details
 South Korea
 Japan

France
1–0
Japan

Australia
1–0
Brazil
2003
Details
 France
France
1–0
(a.e.t.)

Cameroon

Turkey
2–1
Colombia
2005
Details
 Germany
Brazil
4–1
Argentina

Germany
4–3
(a.e.t.)

Mexico
2009
Details
 South Africa
Brazil
3–2
United States

Spain
3–2
(a.e.t.)

South Africa

Upcoming tournaments

Titles by team

Teams reaching the top four

Team Winners Runners-up Third Place Fourth Place
 Brazil 3 (1997, 2005, 2009) 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) -
 Saudi Arabia - 1 (1992*) - 1 (1999)
 Cameroon - 1 (2003) - -
 Japan - 1 (2001*) - -
 Czech Republic - - 1 (1997) -
 Germany - - 1 (2005*) -
 Turkey - - 1 (2003) -
 Spain - - 1 (2009) -
 Colombia - - - 1 (2003)
 Côte d'Ivoire - - - 1 (1992)
 Nigeria - - - 1 (1995)
 South Africa - - - 1 (2009*)
 Uruguay - - - 1 (1997)
*: hosts

Goalscorers

Overall top scorers

Player Country Goals
Cuauhtémoc Blanco  Mexico 9
Ronaldinho  Brazil
Adriano  Brazil 7
Romário  Brazil
Marzouk Al-Otaibi  Saudi Arabia 6
Alex  Brazil 5
John Aloisi  Australia
Luis Fabiano  Brazil
Robert Pirès  France
Vladimír Šmicer  Czech Republic

Hat-tricks

Sequence
Player No. of
goals
Time of goals Representing Final
score
Opponent Tournament Round Date
&100000000000000010000001. Šmicer, VladimírVladimír Šmicer 3 &1000000000000004200000042', 68', 71'  Czech Republic &100000000000000055999996-1  United Arab Emirates 1997, Saudi Arabia Group stage 01997-12-17December 17, 1997
&100000000000000020000002. Ronaldo, Ronaldo 3 &1000000000000001500000015', 27', 59' (pen.)  Brazil &100000000000000065999996-0  Australia 1997, Saudi Arabia Final 01997-12-21December 21, 1997
&100000000000000030000003. Romário, Romário 3 &1000000000000003800000038', 53', 75'  Brazil &100000000000000065999996-0  Australia 1997, Saudi Arabia Final 01997-12-21December 21, 1997
&100000000000000040000004. Blanco, CuauhtemocCuauhtemoc Blanco 4 &1000000000000001200000012', 19', 68', 77'  Mexico &100000000000000045000005-1  Saudi Arabia 1999, México Group stage 01999-07-25July 25, 1999
&100000000000000050000005. Al-Otaibi, MarzouqMarzouq Al-Otaibi 4 &100000000000000080000008', 34', 78', 85'  Saudi Arabia &100000000000000045000005-1  Egypt 1999, México Group stage 01999-07-29July 29, 1999
&100000000000000060000006. Ronaldinho, Ronaldinho 3 &1000000000000001100000011', 65', 90+2'  Brazil &100000000000000067999998-2  Saudi Arabia 1999, México Semi-finals 01999-08-01August 1, 1999
&100000000000000070000007. Luciano Figueroa, Luciano Figueroa 3 &1000000000000001200000012', 53', 89'  Argentina &100000000000000023999994-2  Australia 2005, Germany Group stage 02005-07-18July 18, 2005
&100000000000000080000008. Torres, FernandoFernando Torres 3 &100000000000000060000006', 14', 17'  Spain &100000000000000055000005-0  New Zealand 2009, South Africa Group stage 02009-06-14June 14, 2009

Awards

Golden Ball

The Golden Ball award is awarded to the player who plays the most outstanding football during the tournament. It is selected by the media poll.

Tournament Golden Ball Winner
1997 Saudi Arabia Denilson
1999 Mexico Ronaldinho
2001 Korea/Japan Robert Pirès
2003 France Thierry Henry
2005 Germany Adriano
2009 South Africa Kaká

Golden Shoe

The Golden Shoe is awarded to the topscorer of the tournament. If more than one players are equal by same goals, the players will be selected based by the most assists during the tournament.

Tournament Golden Shoe Award Goals
1997 Saudi Arabia Romario 7
1999 Mexico Ronaldinho 6
2001 Korea/Japan Robert Pires 2
2003 France Thierry Henry 4
2005 Germany Adriano 5
2009 South Africa Luis Fabiano 5

Golden Glove

The Golden Glove is awarded to the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

Tournament Golden Glove
2005 Germany Oswaldo Sanchez
2009 South Africa Tim Howard

FIFA Fair Play Award

FIFA Fair Play Award is given to the team who has the best fair play record during the tournament with the criteria set by FIFA Fair Play Committee.

Tournament FIFA Fair Play Award
1997 Saudi Arabia  South Africa
1999 Mexico  New Zealand,  Brazil
2001 Korea/Japan  Japan
2003 France  Japan
2005 Germany  Greece
2009 South Africa  Brazil

Summary

Participation details

Legend
Team
1992

1995

1997

1999


2001

2003

2005

2009

2013
Years
UEFA Members
 Czech Republic × × 3rd 1
 Denmark × 1st 1
 France × 1st 1st 2
 Germany × × GS × 3rd 2
 Greece GS 1
 Italy × × GS 1
 Spain × 3rd Q 2
 Turkey 3rd 1
CONMEBOL Members
 Argentina 1st 2nd × 2nd 2
 Bolivia GS 1
 Brazil × 1st 2nd 4th GS 1st 1st Q 7
 Colombia 4th 1
 Uruguay 4th Q 2
CONCACAF Members
 Canada × GS 1
 Mexico 3rd GS 1st GS 4th Q 5
 United States 3rd 3rd GS 2nd 4
CAF Members
 Cameroon GS 2nd 2
 Côte d'Ivoire 4th 1
 Egypt GS GS 2
 Nigeria 4th × × 1
 South Africa × GS 4th 2
 Tunisia GS 1
AFC Members
 Australia [4] × × 2nd 3rd GS 3
 Iraq × × GS 1
 Japan GS 2nd GS GS Q 5
 Saudi Arabia 2nd GS GS 4th 4
 South Korea × GS 1
 United Arab Emirates GS 1
OFC Members
 New Zealand GS GS GS 3
Total 4 6 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

General statistics

Team P W D L GF GA Dif
 Argentina 10 5 3 2 22 14 +8
 Australia 13 5 1 7 13 20 -7
 Bolivia 3 0 2 1 2 3 -1
 Brazil 28 18 5 5 64 25 +39
 Cameroon 8 4 1 3 5 5 0
 Canada 3 0 1 2 0 5 -5
 Colombia 5 2 0 3 5 5 0
 Côte d'Ivoire 2 0 0 2 2 9 -7
 Czech Republic 5 2 1 2 10 7 +3
 Denmark 3 2 1 0 5 1 +4
 Egypt 6 1 2 3 9 16 -7
 France 10 9 0 1 24 5 +19
 Germany 8 4 1 3 17 17 0
 Greece 3 0 1 2 0 4 -4
 Iraq 3 0 2 1 0 1 -1
 Italy 3 1 0 2 3 5 -2
 Japan 13 5 2 6 15 16 -1
 South Korea 3 2 0 1 3 6 -3
 Mexico 19 8 5 6 33 28 +5
 New Zealand 9 0 1 8 2 24 -22
 Nigeria 3 1 2 0 4 1 +3
 Saudi Arabia 12 3 1 8 13 31 -18
 South Africa 8 1 2 5 9 13 -4
 Spain 5 4 0 1 11 4 +7
 Tunisia 3 1 0 2 3 5 -2
 Turkey 5 2 1 2 8 8 0
 United Arab Emirates 3 1 0 2 2 8 -6
 United States 15 6 1 8 20 20 0
 Uruguay 5 3 0 2 8 6 +2

Last updated: 4 January 2012.

Winning coaches

Year Head coach Champions
1992 Alfio Basile  Argentina
1995 Richard Møller Nielsen  Denmark
1997 Mário Zagallo  Brazil
1999 Manuel Lapuente  Mexico
2001 Roger Lemerre  France
2003 Jacques Santini  France
2005 Carlos Alberto Parreira  Brazil
2009 Dunga  Brazil

References

  1. ^ 2005/2006 season: final worldwide matchday to be 14 May 2006
  2. ^ Intercontinental Cup for Nations
  3. ^ a b The first two editions were in fact the defunct King Fahd Cup. FIFA later recognized them retroactively as Confederations Cups. See http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=101/awards/.
  4. ^ Australia took part as a OFC member.