FIFA Confederations Cup
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The FIFA Confederations Cup is an association football tournament for national teams, currently held every two years by FIFA. It is contested by the winners of each of the six FIFA confederation championships (CAF, CONMEBO, UEFA, AF, OF, CONCACAF), along with the FIFA World Cup winner and the host country, to bring the number of teams up to eight.
History and details
When the World champion is also winner of its confederation championship, then the World Cup runner-up also enters the Confederations Cup, ensuring eight teams for the tournament. In the 2005 tournament, however, Brazil, as World champion, and World Cup runner-up Germany, as host, had qualified. When Brazil also won the Copa América, the vacant eighth spot was awarded to Argentina, runner-up in the Copa América.
On three previous occasions teams have refused to participate in the tournament. The UEFA Euro 1996 winner Germany declined to participate 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, refused to participate 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, refused to take part in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, and was replaced by Turkey, the third-placed team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
The first forerunner of the Confederations Cup was the 1980 Mundialito, or Copa D’Oro. The Artemio Franchi Trophy, contested in 1985 and 1993 between the winners of the Copa America and European Football Championships, is considered a predecessor to the Confederations Cup and was effectively replaced by the tournament in the same way that the Intercontinental Cup club tournament preceded the FIFA Club World Cup.
The tournament was originally organised by and held in Saudi Arabia and called the King Fahd 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.
The FIFA Confederations Cup was contested under FIFA’s auspices for the first time in 1997 and replaced the Intercontinental Championship, which was staged in 1992 and 1995. Each of these three tournaments were held in Saudi Arabia. In 1999 the Confederations Cup was held in Mexico and it returned to Asia in 2001, where it was staged as a precursor to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea Republic / Japan. Defending the World Cup and European champion France added to their trophy case by winning the 2001 tournament, and would repeat as champions hosting the event in 2003.
1992 – King Fahd Cup tournament, the first Confederations Cup, was hosted by Saudi Arabia in October 1992. It was won by Argentina, who beat Saudi Arabia 3–1 in the final. The 1992 tournament was the only one not to feature a group stage and only hosted four nations.
1995 – King Fahd Cup tournament was the second and last tournament held under the King Fahd Cup name before the competition was taken over by FIFA and renamed the FIFA Confederations Cup. It was hosted by Saudi Arabia in January 1995. It was won by Denmark, who beat defending champions Argentina 2–0 in the final.
1997 – FIFA Confederations Cup was the first Confederations Cup to be organised by FIFA. The edition of the tournament, hosted by Saudi Arabia, was the first to feature representatives from all of the FIFA confederations. It was won by Brazil. After winning the 1997 tournament, Brazil became the first country to be the reigning champion of both major FIFA tournaments, as well as champion of their respective confederation by winning the 1997 Copa America. This feat has since been accomplished once by France, victorious in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2000 and the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup.
1999 – FIFA Confederations Cup was the fourth FIFA Confederations Cup, and the second organised by FIFA. The tournament was hosted by Mexico. It was won by Mexico, who beat Brazil 4–3 in the final. The competition was to originally be held in three stadiums, in three cities in the country.
2001 – FIFA Confederations Cup was the fifth FIFA Confederations Cup and the third to be organised by FIFA. The tournament was played in May and June 2001 and co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, who were also hosts for the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals. It was won by France, beating hosts Japan 1–0, with a goal from Patrick Vieira .
By winning the tournament, France became the second team to simultaneously be World Cup champions, continental champions and Confederations Cup winners, after Brazil in 1997.
2003 – FIFA Confederations Cup football tournament was the sixth FIFA Confederations Cup, held in France in June 2003. France retained the title they had won in 2001, but the tournament was overshadowed by the death of Cameroon player Marc-Vivien Foe. The Cameroon players did their best to take the trophy home in honour of their team mate, and forced the match into extra time , where a golden goal by Thierry Henry gave France the trophy.
At the presentation of medals and trophies, two Cameroon players held a gigantic photo of Foe, and a runner-up medal was hung to the edge of the photo too. When French captain Marcel Desailly was presented with the Confederations Cup, he did not lift it up high, but held it in unison with Cameroon captain Rigobert Song. Foe finished third in media voting for player of the tournament and was posthumously awarded the Bronze Ball at its conclusion.
2005 – FIFA Confederations Cup football tournament was the seventh FIFA Confederations Cup. It was held in Germany between 15 June and 29 June 2005.
Argentina was awarded a spot in the competition because Brazil had won both the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the Copa America 2004 . Since both competitions award their winners a spot in the Confederations Cup, the runner-up in the World Cup would be called to play. Said runner-up, however, was Germany, which already had a spot as hosts of the 2005 Confederations Cup. Argentina, as the runner-up in the Copa America, was then granted a place in the 2005 edition of the tournament.
Confederation Cup Summaries
| Year | Champion | Runner-Up | 3rd Place | 4th Place | Location |
| 1992 | Argentina | Saudi Arabia | United States | Ivory Coast | Saudi Arabia |
| 1995 | Denmark | Argentina | Mexico | Nigeria | Saudi Arabia |
| 1997 | Brazil | Australia | Czech Republic | Uruguay | Saudi Arabia |
| 1999 | Mexico | Brazil | United States | Saudi Arabia | Mexico |
| 2001 | France | Japan | Australia | Brazil | Korea / Japan |
| 2003 | France | Cameroon | Turkey | Colombia | France |
| 2005 | Brazil | Argentina | Germany | Mexico | Germany |