The Expanded Club World Cup

 I think club competitions are important because of their ability to generate sustained grassroots support. Sports associations that rely too heavily on national and federational teams tend to be "hollowed out" and have difficulty maintaining a lasting following.

 

In a covid-free parallel universe, 2022 was set to be a big step in the right direction for football with an expanded 24-team Club World Cup. Unfortunately it has been postponed to at least 2023. In the meantime, the competition will follow the same format as in previous years - a knockout of the six confederation champions.

 

I'm totally supportive of an expanded competition. Why? Some reasons follow.

 

A true global club champion

 

France is genuinely considered the world champion based on its performances in the 2018 World Cup. Don't we want to know which club is the world's greatest, too?

 

We do have a Club World Cup already, but unfortunately it's not a prestigious competition. The 2020 edition pitted Bayern Munich (the UEFA Champions League champion and unofficial world #1) against the five other confederation champions, including clubs such as Auckland City (#136) and Al-Duhail (#114). For Bayern the competition was merely an exercise in bucket list completion and proved nothing in terms of accomplishment.

 

A 24-team competition would represent a far more serious challenge that would be reflected in the prestige conferred on the winner.

 

Based on recent results the lineup for a 2022 Club World Cup might have been:

 

Ulsan Hyundai, Persepolis, Vissel Kobe, Al-Ahly, Kaizer Chiefs, Wydad AC, UANL, Los Angeles FC, America, Palmeiras, Santos, River Plate, Boca Juniors, Racing, Gremio, Chelsea, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, Porto, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Liverpool and a club from the host nation.

 

Opportunities for talent from lowly ranked countries

 

Ryan Giggs had a storied career with Manchester United, earning medals for every club competition he participated in. However he never played in the World Cup. Why? Because he's from Wales - a football minnow that only ever qualified for the World Cup once, back in 1958. For players like Giggs who were unlucky enough to be born in the wrong country to parents of the wrong nationality, there is no path to global achievement and recognition. Frankly, there should be.

 

Giggs actually won a Club World Cup medal with Manchester United in 2008, but it was almost meaningless as an achievement. In the final they defeated LDU Quito (unofficial world ranking of #163).

 

For the women too please!

 

Women's club competitions are still immature in many parts of the world. Currently there is no women's Club World Cup at all. About the closest it gets is invitational tournaments like the SheBelieves Cup which are little more than exhibitions. But the pieces are starting to fall into place. In 2021 CAF joined UEFA, CONMEBOL and AFC in holding women's Champions League competitions, and CONCACAF intends starting their own tournament after the 2023 World Cup. Only the OFC has not yet announced any plans.

 

Hypothetically if everything had been in place this year, a 2022 Womens Club World Cup might have featured:

 

Tokyo Verdy Beleza, Jiangsu Suning, Incheon Red Angels, Mamelodi Sundowns, Hasaacas Ladies, Malabo Kings, Washington Spirits, Chicago Red Stars, Tigres, Chivas, Corinthians, Santa Fe, Ferroviara, Nacional, Kindermann, Eastern Suburbs, Barcelona, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Lyon, Manchester City, Wolfsburg and one club from the host nation.