This coming February, Whitecaps FC continue their quest to reach the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup.
To do so, they will need to win the CONCACAF Champions League – crowning the best team in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The ’Caps are currently in the quarterfinals and will face New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, February 22 in New York, then host the second leg at BC Place on Thursday, March 2.
Simultaneously, clubs around the world are also battling to become kings of their own region. Below is an update on who else is still in contention for the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup.
EUROPE
The most well-known Champions League in the world is the one held by UEFA, featuring the best of the best in Europe.
Defending champions:
Real Madrid (Spain)
Top countries:
- Spain - 16 champions
- England - 12 champions
- Italy - 12 champions
- Germany - 7 champions
Top clubs
- Real Madrid (Spain) - 11 titles – last title in 2016
- AC Milan (Italy) - 7 titles - last title in 2007
- Barcelona (Spain) - 5 titles - last title in 2015
- Bayern Munich (Germany) - 5 titles - last title in 2013
- Liverpool (England) - 5 titles - last title in 2005
FIFA Club World Cup History
The UEFA Champions League winner has gone on to capture eight of 12 FIFA Club World Cup titles, only failing to make the final once – the inaugural tournament in 2000.
2017 FIFA Club World Cup Contenders
The Group Stage for the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League tournament has completed four sets of matches so far, with two matches remaining for each team.
So far, five teams have confirmed their progression to the Round of 16 Knockout Phase:
- Arsenal (England)
- Atlético Madrid (Spain)
- Bayern Munich (Germany)
- Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
- Paris Saint-Germain (France)
The other teams currently in position to advance are:
- Leicester City (England)
- Manchester City (England)
- Monaco (France)
- Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
- Juventus (Italy)
- Napoli (Italy)
- Benfica (Portugal)
- Porto (Portugal)
- Barcelona (Spain)
- Real Madrid (Spain)
- Sevilla (Spain)
The final of the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League will take place on June 3, 2017 at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
SOUTH AMERICA
Widely regarded as the second strongest region in the world is CONMEBOL, the South American confederation. The continent’s club champion is determined through the Copa Libertadores.
Defending champions:
Atlético Nacional (Colombia)
Top countries:
- Argentina - 24 champions
- Brazil - 17 champions
- Uruguay - 8 champions
Top clubs
- Independiente (Argentina) - 7 titles - last title in 1984
- Boca Juniors (Argentina) - 6 titles - last title in 2007
- Peñarol (Uruguay) - 5 titles - last title in 1987
- Estudiantes (Argentina) - 4 titles - last title in 2009
FIFA Club World Cup History
Four times the Copa Libertadores champion has gone on to win the FIFA Club World Cup, all Brazilian clubs: Corinthians (2000 and 2012), São Paulo (2005), and Internacional (2006).
2017 FIFA Club World Cup Contenders
The tournament will begin early next year in late January or early February. Brazilian clubs had a dominant run with four straight titles from 2010-2013, but Argentina produced winners in 2014 and 2015 before Colombia’s Atlético Nacional won their second title, and third ever from the country, in 2016. An outlier in 2008 saw Ecuador’s LDU Quito win the tournament. So while Argentinian and Brazilian clubs will be favoured, it’s hard to say who will come out on top.
ASIA
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League hosts an interesting format, splitting both the Group and Knockout stages between two zones, East and West.
The East Zone includes (in order of ranking): Korea Republic, Japan, Australia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Malaysia, India, and Singapore.
The West Zone features: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, and Syria.
Defending champions:
2016 final this month, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (Korea Republic) vs. Al-Ain FC (UAE)
Top countries:
- Korea Republic - 10 titles
- Japan - 5 titles
- Saudi Arabia - 4 titles
Top clubs
- Pohang Steelers (Korea Republic) - 3 titles - last title in 2009
- Nine clubs from eight countries - tied with 2 titles each
* Guangzhou Evergrande (China) are the most recent two-time winners, in 2013 and 2015
FIFA Club World Cup History
On nine occasions Asia have had two teams in the FIFA Club World Cup, with Japan hosting the tournament seven times and the United Arab Emirates hosting twice. But never has an Asian team reached the final. Four times though they have finished in third place, most recently in 2015 by Japanese hosts Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
2017 FIFA Club World Cup Contenders
The 2017 AFC Champions League will determine the 2017 Club World Cup participant, and that edition of the tournament will run from January to November of 2017. The East Zone has produced nine of the past 10 champions. Five of those champions were from Korea Republic, two from Japan, and one from Australia. China has recently emerged as a more regular contender on the continental scene.
AFRICA
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) includes 56 member countries across the continent, and occasionally a team that surprises at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Defending champions:
Mamelodi Sundowns FC (South Africa)
Top countries:
- Egypt - 14 champions
- Democratic Republic of Congo - 6 champions
- Algeria - 5 champions
- Morocco - 5 champions
- Cameroon - 5 champions
Top clubs
- Al Ahly (Egypt) - 8 titles - last title in 2013
- TP Mazembe (DR Congo) - 5 titles – last title in 2015
- Zamalek (Egypt) - 5 titles - last title in 2002
FIFA Club World Cup History
CAF have twice made a big splash on the world stage by reaching the FIFA Club World Cup final. In 2010, TP Mazembe beat Brazil's Internacional before falling 3-0 to Italy's Inter Milan in the final. Then in 2013, Morocco's Raja Casablanca – who were in the tournament as host country – upset Brazil's Atlético Mineiro before falling 2-0 to Germany's Bayern Munich in the final.
2017 FIFA Club World Cup Contenders
The 2017 CAF Champions League will run from March to November of 2017. Egyptian clubs Al-Ahly and Zamalek will again be favoured, as will DR Congo’s TP Mazembe.
OCEANIA
The Oceania Football Conferederation (OFC) Champions League features 12 participating countries, but it has been dominated by one country, and one club in particular.
Defending champions:
Auckland City (New Zealand)
Top countries:
- New Zealand - 10 champions
- Australia - 4 champions
- Papua New Guinea - 1 champion
Australia moved to the Asian Football Confederation in 2006
Top clubs
- Auckland City (New Zealand) - 8 titles - six straight titles from 2011-2016
- Waitakere United (New Zealand) - 2 titles - last title in 2008
- Hekari United (Papua New Guinea) - 1 title - last title in 2010
FIFA Club World Cup History
That history essentially belongs to Auckland City. The OFC representative always has the toughest path, having to play an opening preliminary match each year before the quarterfinals. 2014 saw the small club make a dream run when they defeated Moroccan hosts Moghreb Tétouan in penalty kicks after a scoreless match. They then beat African champions ES Sétif from Algeria 1-0 to reach the semifinals. After giving them all they could handle, the Cinderella side eventually fell 2-1 to South American champions San Lorenzo from Argentina.
2017 FIFA Club World Cup Contenders
Qualifying for the 2017 tournament is scheduled to begin in January and February. The tournament will then take place between February to May 2017. At this rate, it would be surprising to see anyone outside of Auckland City take the title.
