Confederations Cup may be laid to rest
World Champions and World No. 2 Germany annexed the title of the ninth edition of the Confederations Cup beating South America Champions Chile against run of play in the final held on Sunday. Before them, World No. 1 Brazil won highest four times, while Argentina, France, Mexico and Denmark the other four times.
But the incumbent FIFA President is against this format of the world championship although football’s world governing body earned 1.10 billion dollar this year. There have been indications that Infantino would not mind one bit if the Confederations Cup faded into the sunset. Yet we have to wait few more years.
Meanwhile, Olympic Champions Brazil’s coach Tite said that he wanted to contest the Confederations Cup in the interest of his players. But FIFA’s bye-law debarred immediate past title holders Brazil for failure to capture Copa America title.
Confederations Cup’s previous name was Inter-Continental Cup initiated by Saudi Arabia in 1991. After first two editions held in every two years, FIFA grabbed it, named Confederations Cup and made it a tournament of eight nations to be held just one year before the World Cup.
In the world of cricket, ICC Champions Trophy, an world competition, is under threat, and in soccer, Confederations Cup, dress rehearsal of the World Cup, may be sent packing.
Abdullah Akber
Dhaka
