Soccer: Intercontinental Cup, Summary and Data
Information about the Intercontinental Cup with the last 10 winners of the competition, the teams with the most trophies won in the history of the tournment and an index to every final played.
The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a soccer competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Champions League and the Copa Libertadores in a match played each year. The Cup was called the World Club Championship until the first FIFA Club World Championship was held in 2000. From 2005 the Intercontinental Cup was replaced by the Club World Championship, which also includes North American, Asian, African and Oceanian winners.
The World Club Championship was created by Henri Delaunay as a way of determining who is the top club in the world. Europe already had its European Champions Club Cup, but South America did not have a similar competition. Thus, South American Confederación (CONMEBOL's predecessor) created a similar competition. The Copa Libertadores made the World Club Championship viable. The first match-up was in 1960, between Spanish side Real Madrid and the Uruguayan club Peñarol.
From 1960 to 1979, the World Club Championship was played in two legs. Between 1960 and 1968, the cup was decided on points only, the same format used by CONMEBOL to determine the winner of the Copa Libertadores final through 1987. Because of this format, a third match was needed when both teams were tied on points. From 1969 through 1979, the competition adopted the European standard method of aggregate score, with away goals. Starting in 1980, the final became a single match. Up until 2000, the matches were held at Tokyo's National Stadium. Finals since 2001 were held at the Yokohama International Stadium, venue of the 2002 FIFA World Cup final.
Out of concern for the integrity of players, and also because of the lack of financial incentive, several European champions declined to participate; in all cases, their runners-up took their place. The 1975 and 1978 editions were not played at all. The very viability of the competition came under fire until Toyota assumed the role of sponsor for the 1980 edition; for the remainder of the competition's history, no club declined playing the Intercontinental Cup, and the competition always took the form of a single match held on neutral ground, in Toyota's home country Japan. This cup was played for the last time in 2004, being replaced by the FIFA Club World Championship from 2005.
Years: 2004 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 - 2000 - 1999 - 1998 - 1997 - 1996 - 1995 - 1994 - 1993 - 1992 - 1991 - 1990 - 1989 - 1988 - 1987 - 1986 - 1985 - 1984 - 1983 - 1982 - 1981 - 1980 - 1979 - 1978 - 1977 - 1976 - 1975 - 1974 - 1973 - 1972 - 1971 - 1970 - 1969 - 1968 - 1967 - 1966 - 1965 - 1964 - 1963 - 1962 - 1961 - 1960