Toronto's Path To Club World Cup

Club World Cup

On Tuesday, October 18, Toronto FC beat FC Dallas 3-0 to advance from the Group Stage to the Quarterfinals of the 2011/12 CONCACAF Champions League (CCL). Reaching the “knock-out” phase (Championship Round) of this very prestigious tournament is a first in Toronto FC’s history and places the club in elite company.




For background, each region in FIFA (Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, South America, and Toronto's region: North & Central America) operates an annual club Champions League tournament. Once a champion from each region is crowned, the winners compete against each other in the FIFA Club World Cup, which ultimately seeks the best
club
in the world (as opposed to the other World Cup, which seeks the best
nation
in the world).  




Toronto FC aspires to be the best club in the world. To achieve that honour, it needs to knock down some hurdles on the way. In 2010, Pachuca from Mexico was representing CONCACAF at this tournament and finished in fifth place. In 2011, defending CCL winner Monterrey (Mexico) will represent the region.




The long path to winning the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup for Toronto FC:




1. Win Canada –
DONE


2. Win CCL preliminary round –
DONE


3. Get through the CCL Group Stage –
DONE


4. Win CCL Championship Round (Quarterfinal, Semifinal, and Final)


5. Attend the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan in December of that year



Toronto's Path To Club World Cup -

Past winners of the Club World Cup are:




Europe (UEFA)




2010: Inter Milan (Italy)


2009: Barcelona (Spain)


2008: Manchester United (England)


2007: AC Milan (Italy)




South America (CONMEBOL)




2006: International (Brazil)


2005: Sao Paulo (Brazil)


2000: Corinthians (Brazil)




The tournament was not contested from 2001-2004. Top CONCACAF performer was Costa Rica's CD Saprissa in 2005, finishing third behind Sao Paulo of Brazil and English UEFA Champions League winner Liverpool.




To sum it up: Toronto FC is now 6 games away from reaching the FIFA Club World Cup, and 8 games away from the final. In March, Toronto will play another CONCACAF club in a home & home series to advance to the semifinals and hopefully continue on to the Final.