Dominant power holds sway at Club World Cup, with underdogs barely leaving dent
Football's Established Giants Rule Club World Cup
The Club World Cup played out in the States showcased a mix of powerhouses and underdogs from every corner of the globe. Yet, at the end of the day, the established order held strong.
Only a scant few teams made it to the last-16, with most hailing from Europe and South America.
One of the last to secure a spot was Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia. Their roster boasts big-name acquisitions like Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo from Portuguese giants, Kalidou Koulibaly, a former defender for Chelsea, and ex-Brazil international Malcom.
Monterrey from Mexico and Inter Miami, where Lionel Messi commands a star-studded lineup of ex-Barcelona players, also joined the fray.
For the rest, it was a dismal showing by clubs from other continents.
Al-Hilal had a standout draw against Real Madrid and a crucial win over Mexican Pachuca, but it was one of only two victories by Asian clubs in the entire tournament, a disappointing statistic for the continent as a whole.
Africa also struggled, with their representatives ending the competition with a combined total of two victories in 12 matches, a frigid performance for teams representing the vast continent.
Miguel Cardoso, coach of South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, admitted that the competition level was tougher than what the players were accustomed to. But he emphasized that the experience would be invaluable for future games.
Ex-Seattle Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer also acknowledged the struggle of competing against powerful opponents. However, he noted that the style and approach between his team and the adversaries were similar and that their players were operating at a significantly higher level.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Al Ahly and Tunisia's Esperance brought lots of fans and added atmosphere to the large stadiums but came up short in their aspirations to progress to the last-16. Jose Riveiro, coach of Cairo giants Al Ahly, conceded that a drop in performance against such quality opposition would carry a price.
Despite the tough competition, Riveiro regarded participating in the Club World Cup as a special occasion for the players, providing a platform to showcase their talents.
Enrichment Data:
- The FIFA Club World Cup 2021 included clubs from various continents, except for those from Australia and South America (except for Inter Miami).
- Teams from Asian, African, North/Central American, and Oceanian regions earn their spots by excelling in their respective continental club competitions, such as the AFC Champions League (Asia), CAF Champions League (Africa), CONCACAF Champions Cup (North/Central America), and OFC Champions League (Oceania).
- Historically, clubs from non-European and non-South American regions struggle to compete against European and South American teams due to resource disparities and stronger leagues. However, there have been exceptions with notable performances and standout players from these regions.
- The 2021 edition witnessed several non-European and non-South American teams, such as African clubs Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns, Asian clubs Urawa Red Diamonds and Esperance de Tunis, and North American clubs Monterrey and Inter Miami, advancing to the knockout rounds. Although this shows improvement, European and South American clubs generally dominate the latter stages and the title itself.
Despite the improvement in representation from regions like Asia, Africa, North and Central America, and Oceania, the established giants from Europe and South America still rule the Club World Cup. The football tournament, though inclusive of various continents except Australia and most of South America, tends to favor teams from the historically stronger leagues.
