It’s never a slow news cycle with FIFA. Today, just when we’ve collectively started to accept the interlull, FIFA has prepared a present for us: The Club World Cup draw.
Okay, so it’s not a great gift; on a soccer scale, this is somewhere above “fruitcake” and somewhere below “ugly sweater without a gift receipt”. Not that many fans really get worked up about the Club World Cup; it’s usually limited to “people who live near the stadiums”. This year’s not much different, really…but they did the draw today, there’s not much else happening, and I can throw a brief non-sequitir about some of the silly seating policies at the end. Bear with me, guys; the interlull’s hard on everyone.
First off, here’s the draw.
MATCH #1 (Playoff) – 12/9/09
Auckland City (AUS) v. Al-Ahli (UAE)
MATCH #2 (Quarterfinal) – 12/11/09
TP Mazembe (COD) v. Pohang Steelers (KOR)
MATCH #3 (Quarterfinal) – 12/12/09
(Winner of Match #1) v. Atlante F.C. (MEX)
MATCH #4 (Semifinal) – 12/15/09
(Winner of Match #2) v. Estudiantes (ARG)
MATCH #5 (Semifinal) – 12/16/09
(Winner of Match #3) v. Barcelona (SPA)
MATCH #6 (Final) – 12/19/09
(Winner of Match #4) v. (Winner of Match #5)
The most likely matchup in the final, of course, is Estudiantes v. Barcelona; in fact, in every year but one, the final has been UEFA against CONMEBOL. The oddball year, 2000, featured two CONMEBOL teams (Vasco de Gama and Corinthians) because the tournament was in Brazil and the home country gets an automatic bid (this year’s home side is Al-Alhi; don’t look for them past the opening round).
Truth be told, this tournament is not terribly exciting. Perhaps more interesting is the ticketing structure. If you are a woman and wish to attend, you can – if you so choose – voluntarily segregate yourself in a special “Female Only Seating” section. The tickets are at the highest pricing tier, but if the prospect of sitting with other women and not with your husband, that option is available to you.
The FIFA Club World Cup is actually just like fruitcake. You didn’t want it (fixture clog), and it can make you sick (injuries). You don’t really get anything positive out of it at all, and you want somebody else to get it instead of you (HA HA, BARCELONA!)
I like fruitcake.
Dude, it’s the World Championship of football. We all saw how Estudiantes and Barcelona fought so hard to conquer their respective continents. Now it’s time to see these 2 titans clash. But, of course, the minnows would like to crash that party.
So can you give us TV info for the USA, Canada and Mexico? Thanx.