List of Intercontinental Cup (football) matches

Intercontinental Cup
A group of Ajax players holding the Intercontinental Cup aloft on the pitch
Ajax players celebrate winning the Intercontinental Cup in 1972
Founded1960
Abolished2004
RegionEurope (UEFA)
South America (CONMEBOL)
Number of teams2
Last championsPortugal Porto
(1st title)
Most successful team(s)Uruguay Nacional
Uruguay Peñarol
Argentina Boca Juniors
Spain Real Madrid
Italy A.C. Milan
(3 titles)

The Intercontinental Cup was an association football club competition contested annually from 1960 to 2004 between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores.[1] The competition was endorsed by both the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL) and, until 1979, it was played over two legs. From 1980, its format was changed to a single match traditionally held in Tokyo, Japan, due to its new sponsorship. The Intercontinental Cup was discontinued in 2004 in favour of the FIFA Club World Cup, which includes the champion clubs from all of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) member confederations.[2]

In its first nine editions, the competition's winner was decided on a points system; if necessary, a play-off match would be held to determine the outcome in the event of a draw. In 1968, the system was changed so that aggregate score would dictate the winning club. The away goals rule was applied if the tie was level after both legs.[3]

Nacional and Peñarol (Uruguay), Boca Juniors (Argentina), Real Madrid (Spain), and A.C. Milan (Italy) hold the record for the most victories, each team having won the competition three times; Milan and Independiente (Argentina) have the most runner-up places (four). Overall, 25 different clubs won the competition during its 45 editions. Argentinian clubs won the most cups, with nine trophies among them; Italian clubs won the second most (seven), and Brazilian teams are third with six victories.[4] The most successful confederation is CONMEBOL, teams representing the confederation having won the competition 22 times and been runners-up 21 times. Teams representing the European football confederation UEFA have won the competition 21 times and been runners-up 22 times.[5] The last Intercontinental Cup was won by 2004 European champions Porto of Portugal, who beat Colombian side Once Caldas by 8–7 in a penalty shootout, after the match finished 0–0.[6]

  1. ^ Vonnard 2020, p. 183.
  2. ^ "Fifa unveils new club event". BBC Sport. 19 February 2004. Archived from the original on 2 April 2004. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  3. ^ "Competition format". Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). 13 July 2005. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  4. ^ de Arruda, Marcelo Leme (15 December 2004). "Trivia on Intercontinental (Toyota) Cup". Rec. Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  5. ^ "History". Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). 13 July 2005. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Porto triumph in World Club Cup". BBC Sport. 12 December 2004. Archived from the original on 6 March 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2010.