The 2009 Confederations Cup will be played in South Africa, the host nation for the 2010 World Cup. The tournament will take place from June 14 to the 28. The six continental champions will participate: Spain (2008 European champions), Brazil (2007 Copa America champions), Iraq (2007 Asian Cup champions), Egypt (2008 African Cup champions), United States (CONCACAF champions) and New Zealand (Oceania Nations Cup champions). Joining them will be the 2006 World cup champions, Italy, and the host nation, South Africa.
History of the FIFA Confederations Cup
The Confederations Cup evolved from the Artemio Franchi trophy, this was a 1985 match played in Paris which saw France, the defending European Champions, taking on Uruguay, the defending Copa America champions. It would take Seven years before semblance of the first Confederations Cup could be seen as Saudi Arabia hosted the first King Fahd Cup. In 1992, only 4 teams participated and Argentina took the title with a brilliant performance from Gabriel Batistuta. In 1995, Denmark proved to be champion with an outstanding performance against Mexico in the four team tournament. By 1997, the King Fahd Cup caught the interest of FIFA and was renamed the Confederations Cup and now included 6 teams. FIFA wanted all 6 continental champions to face off in a prestigious tournament that would be a prelude for the World Cup. In 1997, a dominant Brazil squad led by Romario won the tournament. In 1999, FIFA decided that the venue for the tournament should be moved to the World Cup host country, taking the tournament away from Saudi Arabia. That year, host Mexico won the tournament in a brilliant final that saw them beating a strong Brazilian team with Ronaldinho and Ronaldo. In 2001 and 2003, France won the tournament and established their presence with such stars as Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Zinedine Zidane. The last Confederations Cup was played in 2005, it include the 6 continental champions as well as the World Cup winner and the host nation. Host Germany saw Brazil win the tournament a year before Italy would hoist the World Cup in 2006.
Relevance of the FIFA Confederations Cup
FIFA has defended the importance of the tournament by citing the continental champions that participate as well as the World Cup winner and the host nation. FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said that the Confederations Cup is the second most important soccer tournament on the international match calendar, second only to the World Cup. Critics of the tournament however, site the 1997 edition of the tournament when European champions Germany refused to participate and in 1999, World cup champions France declined the invitation. The Confederations Cup is no doubt a good preparation for the World Cup's host country in order to prepare for the World's biggest sporting event. It is South Africa's turn to host this tournament and with FIFA's full support, let us hope that the tournament will do more than just a practice round for the players and the teams.
