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The Club World Cup is a contest which normally easiest truly looks to curiosity the teams enjoying in it.
Perchance that’s the reason FIFA made up our minds to expand the match, turning it true into a 32-team affair for 2025.
In the starting up, winners of the European Cup and South America’s Copa Libertadores met over two legs in a series identified as the Intercontinental Cup.
That kicked off in 1960 and persevered until 2004, replaced by the Club World Cup the next year. Right here, a have a look at some of the ideal winners within the 2 competitions…
Chelsea (2021)
After losing 1-0 to Corinthians within the 2012 Club World Cup final, Chelsea went one greater in 2021.
The Blues beat Brazilian aspect Palmeiras 2-1 after extra time, edging out the São Paulo aspect slack on thanks to a Kai Havertz penalty within the 117th minute in Abu Dhabi.
Internacional (2006)
With a starting up line-up that comprises 11 Brazilian avid gamers, Internacional anxious Barcelona with a 1-0 ranking over the Catalan club within the final of the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup.
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Adriano Gabiru’s slack contrivance noticed the trophy head back to Porto Alegre and Barcelona – with the likes of Ronaldinho, Andrés Iniesta and Carles Puyol within the XI that day – would must wait yet every other five years to ranking the rivals.
Manchester Metropolis (2023)
Manchester Metropolis adopted up their treble triumph in 2023 by at the side of the FIFA Club World Cup later within the year.
Pep Guardiola’s aspect noticed off Fluminense 4-0 in a one-sided final, with Julián Álvarez scoring twice, alongside with a contrivance from Phil Foden and a Nino own contrivance in Jeddah.
River Plate (1986)
River Plate’s first Copa Libertadores ranking came in 1986 and later that year, the Millionarios also lifted the Intercontinental Cup.
The Buenos Aires giants beat Steaua Bucharest 1-0 in Tokyo to claim the trophy. A decade later, River lost to Juventus by the equal scoreline and in 2015, Marcelo Gallardo’s aspect had been beaten 3-0 by Barcelona within the final of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Liverpool (2019)
In spite of their pedigree within the European Cup and the Champions League, Liverpool by no means won the Intercontinental Cup and the Reds had to wait until 2019 for his or her first success within the FIFA Club World Cup.
That came in 2019, when Roberto Firmino’s extra-time contrivance sealed a 1-0 ranking over Flamengo. Liverpool had beforehand lost 1-0 to São Paulo within the 2005 final, with Intercontinental Cup defeats against Flamengo in 1981 and Independiente in 1984. No match modified into once performed in 1978.
Juventus (1985, 1996)
Juventus’ first European Cup came in 1985, when the Bianconeri edged out Liverpool in a final marred by fan violence as 39 fans lost their lives in Brussels.
The Turin giants adopted that up with victory within the Intercontinental Cup over Argentinos Juniors on penalties after a 2-2 attract Tokyo. And after claiming the Champions League in 1996, Juve beat River Plate 1-0 with a contrivance from Alessandro Del Piero to ranking the sequence for a 2d time.
Santos (1962, 1963)
Inspired by the legendary Pelé, Santos won Copa Libertadores titles in both 1962 and 1963 and the Brazilian club went on so that you can add Intercontinental crowns in every of these years.
Santos beat Benfica home and away to ranking the 1962 version, but wished a play-off to defeat AC Milan the next year after both fits had completed 4-2 to the home team. Libertadores winners yet again in 2011 with Neymar in their ranks, Santos completed runners-up to Barcelona within the FIFA Club World Cup that year.
Ajax (1972, 1995)
Ajax won the European Cup three years in a row within the early Seventies, but the Amsterdam club declined to rob allotment within the Intercontinental Cup in 1971 and 1973, citing the prices of travelling to South America.
In 1972, Ajax did rob allotment and the Dutch giants beat Argentine aspect Independiente 4-1 over two legs. Champions League winners in 1995, Louis van Gaal’s aspect beat Grêmio on penalties within the Intercontinental Cup clash later that year after a 0-0 attract Tokyo.
Porto (1987, 2004)
European Cup winners in 1987, Porto won the trophy yet again as the Champions League in 2004 and the Dragons went on to claim the Intercontinental Cup both cases.
Porto beat Uruguayan aspect Peñarol 2-1 after extra time in 1987 and defeated Colombian outfit As soon as Caldas on penalties following a 0-0 attract the final-ever Intercontinental match in 2004.
Corinthians (2000, 2012)
The main FIFA Club World Cup modified into once performed in Brazil in 2000 and that match modified into once won by Corinthians, with the São Paulo aspect edging out Vasco da Gama on penalties after a 0-0 plan at the Maracanã.
Finally, the Club World Cup replaced the Intercontinental Cup in 2005 and Corinthians won the rivals yet again in 2012, courtesy of a Paolo Guerrero contrivance against Chelsea in Yokohama.
Manchester United (1999, 2008)
Overwhelmed 2-1 on combination by Estudiantes within the 1968 Intercontinental Cup, Manchester United had to wait over 30 years for yet every other shot at the trophy.
United at final won it in 1999, following up their treble triumph with a 1-0 victory over Palmeiras, with Roy Keane scoring the contrivance. Sir Alex Ferguson’s aspect went on so that you can add the Club World Cup in 2008, with Wayne Rooney on route this time in a 1-0 ranking over LDU Quito in Japan.
Independiente (1973, 1984)
One in all Argentina’s most successful aspects within the 1960s, Seventies and Eighties, Independiente won seven Copa Libertadores titles between 1964 and 1984.
Nicknamed Rey de Copas (“King of Cups”), Independiente also won the Intercontinental Cup in 1973 and 1984, finishing as runners-up in 1964, 1965, 1972 and 1974.
Barcelona (2009, 2011, 2015)
Barcelona by no means won the old-fashioned Intercontinental Cup, but the Blaugrana have won the FIFA Club World Cup three cases.
The main of these victories came in 2009, when Barça beat Estudiantes to entire a shipshape sweep of six titles out of six below Pep Guardiola. Barcelona thrashed a Santos aspect that comprises Neymar 4-0 within the 2011 version, before defeating River Plate 3-0 in 2015.
Inter (1964, 1965, 2010)
European Cup winners in 1964 and 1965, Inter went on so that you can add the Intercontinental Cup to their trophy cabinet later in yearly, beating Argentine aspect Independiente both cases.
And after claiming the treble in 2010, the Nerazzurri ended the year as FIFA Club World Cup winners, thrashing Congolese club TP Mazembe 3-0 within the final in Abu Dhabi.
São Paulo (1992, 1993, 2005)
Copa Libertadores winners in 1992 and 1993, São Paulo went on to claim the Intercontinental Cup in both of these years, beating Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona 2-1 within the 1992 version and edging out Fabio Capello’s AC Milan 3-2 the next year.
And in 1995, a contrivance from Mineiro noticed São Paulo defeat Liverpool 1-0 in Yokohama to ranking the FIFA Club World Cup. That triumph made the Tricolor Brazil’s most successful aspect in global competitions.
Nacional (1971, 1980, 1988)
One in all five teams to have won the Intercontinental Cup on three times, Nacional took the trophy in every of their three appearances.
The Montevideo giants edged out Panathinaikos 3-2 over two legs in 1971, before beating Nottingham Woodland 1-0 within the foremost one-off match in 1980 and defeating PSV on penalties after a 2-2 attract 1988.
Boca Juniors (1977, 2000, 2003)
Boca Juniors first won the Intercontinental Cup in 1977, beating Bundesliga aspect Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-0 in Germany after a 2-2 attract the foremost leg at the Bombonera.
The Buenos Aires giants went on to ranking the Intercontinental Cup yet again in 2000 and 2003, memorably beating Valid Madrid 2-1 within the foremost of these triumphs. Boca’s ranking in 2003 came against AC Milan on penalties, but the Xeneize lost the 2007 Club World Cup final 4-2 to the Rossoneri.
Peñarol (1961, 1966, 1982)
Overwhelmed by Valid Madrid within the foremost-ever version of the Intercontinental Cup, Peñarol took the trophy the next year with a 6-0 combination ranking over Benfica in 1961.
The Montevideo giants defeated Madrid 2-0 home and away within the 1966 version, before a 2-0 victory in a one-off match against Aston Villa in 1982. The Uruguayan club completed as runners-up yet again in 1987.
Bayern Munich (1976, 2001, 2013, 2020)
Bayern Munich won the European Cup three cases in a row within the Seventies, but the Bavarians declined to rob allotment within the Intercontinental Cup in both 1974 and 1975.
The Bundesliga giants did play in 1976, beating Brazilian aspect Cruzeiro to rob the title. Bayern won it yet again in 2001, edging out Boca Juniors 1-0 within the final, before claiming the FIFA Club World Cup after their treble-successful seasons in both 2013 and 2020.
AC Milan (1969, 1989, 1990, 2007)
One in all five teams to ranking the Intercontinental Cup three cases, AC Milan first won the rivals in 1969, beating Argentine aspect Estudiantes over two legs.
Two many years on, the Rossoneri claimed back-to-back titles in one-off fits against Atlético Nacional and Olimpia, before at the side of a Club World Cup in 2007 with a 4-2 victory over Boca Juniors.
Valid Madrid (1960, 1998, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024)
Given Valid Madrid’s colossal success within the Champions League, it’s not surprising that Los Blancos have also won a series of Intercontinental and Club World Cups.
The Spanish giants won the foremost version of the Intercontinental Cup, beating Uruguayan aspect Peñarol over two legs in 1960. Madrid added two more Intercontinental Cups, in 1998 and 2002, before successful the Club World Cup in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022 and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in 2024.
Ben Hayward is a European soccer author and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered video games all over the world – at the side of three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America – and has spent mighty of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, at the 2d dividing his time between Barcelona and London, conserving all of the mountainous talking aspects of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list capabilities and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.
