2010 CLUB WORLD CUP FIELD IS SET

The final spots in the 2010 Club World Cup were finalized over the weekend with the conclusions of the 2010 AFC Champions League Final and the 2010 CAF Champions League Finals.

The Club World Cup takes place every December and pits the Champions of every Confederation against each other, with the host nations league Champion rounding out the field of seven teams.  This year’s edition will take place over ten days in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

The 2010 CWC will be more of an international affair than usual with Internazionale of Milan representing UEFA and Internacional of Brazil representing CONMEBOL.  Both teams will be placed in the Semifinals to await the winners of the Quarterfinals.

TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo earned their second ever berth in the World Club Cup when they won their fourth African Championship on Saturday with a 6-1 aggregate win over Tunisian side Espérance.  Mazambe won their home leg 5-0 and settled for a 1-1 draw in Tunisia to become the African representative in the CWC for the second consecutive year.  In last years tournament the African side was defeated 2-1 by Asian Champions Pohang Steelers of the Republic of Korea in the Quarterfinals.

This season’s Asian representatives are also from South Korea, but this time the AFC Champions League was won by Seongnam Ilhwa.  The 3-1 aggregate win over Zob Ahan of Iran gave the Korean’s their second AFC Championship and their first ever appearance in the CWC.

QUALIFIED TEAMS (Number of times participated)

CONCACAF – Pachuca – Mexico – 3^rd CWC (2007, 2008)

CAF – TP Mazembe – Democratic Republic of Congo – 2^nd CWC (2009)

CONMEBOL – Internacional – Brazil – 2^nd CWC (2006)

UEFA – Internazionale – Italy – 1^st CWC

AFC – Seongnam Ilhwa – Republic of Korea – 1^st CWC

OCEANIA – Hekari United – Papua New Guinea – 1^st CWC

UAE Champion (Hosts) – Al-Wahda – 1^st CWC

Seongnam Ilhwa will be placed in the Quarterfinals and on December 11, they will face the winners of the playoff match between Oceanic Champion Hekari United of Papua New Guinea and Al-Wahda, Champions of the United Arab Emirates League. The winner of the Quarterfinal will advance to play Inter Milan on December 15.

TP Mazembe will face CONCACAF Champion Pachuca of Mexico, who are making their third appearance in the competition in four years, in the Quarterfinals on December 10, with the Winner advancing to play Internacional on December 14.

2010 CLUB WORLD CUP COMPLETE SCHEDULE

Playoff Round – December 8 – Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Hekari United – Papua New Guinea (Oceania Champion)

Al-Wahda – UAE Champion

Quarterfinal 1 – December 10 – Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

TP Mazembe – Democratic Republic of Congo (CAF Champions)

Pachuca – Mexico (CONCACAF Champions)

Quarterfinal 2 – December 11 – Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi

Playoff Round Winner

Seongnam Ilhwa – Republic of Korea (AFC Champion)

Semifinal 1 – December 14 – Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Quarterfinal 1 Winner

Internacional – Brazil (CONMEBOL Champion)

Semifinal 2 – December 15 – Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi

Quarterfinal 2 Winner

Internazionale – Italy (UEFA Champion)

Third Place Match – December 18 – Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi

Semifinal 1 Loser

Semifinal 2 Loser

World Club Cup Final – December 18 – Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi

Semifinal 1 Winner

Semifinal 2 Winner

The Club World Cup, in it’s current format, is an expanded version of the Intercontinental Cup, which had been contested since 1960 and featured a battle between the European and South American Champions. Even though the format changed to include all the Confederation Champions, every WCC since 2005 when the current system began, has seen a final that has featured the South American Champion against the European Champion.

CLUB WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS

Year – Champion – Runner-up – Venue

2005 – Sao Paulo 1-0 Liverpool – International Stadium, Yokohama Japan

2006 – Internacional 1-0 Barcelona – International Stadium, Yokohama Japan

2007 – AC Milan 4-2 Boca Juniors – International Stadium, Yokohama Japan

2008 – Manchester United 1-0 LDU Quito – International Stadium, Yokohama Japan

2009 – Barcelona 2-1aet Estudiantes – Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates

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