The timing is obviously difficult for the European sides, but it is only played so late because of how late the AFC Champions’ League finishes. If the CWC is played in summer (in the European pre-season), then the AFC representative will have been the winner from the previous year (this might also be the case for CAF, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF and OFC).

Is the CWC an ideal tournament? Nope. But it was intended as a cash cow for OFC/CAF/AFC on the back of the Intercontinental Cup. If Man U send a B team (or C team), the competition suffers from the lack of “stars” and ultimately could become a “worthless” cup (Anglo-Italian Cup anybody?) constantly won by the underdogs because the supposedly “better” teams just decide it’s not worth it. What is the value of the CWC for the European Champions? Winning the trophy, media coverage (particularly in Japan and the rest of Asia, since it’s played there, and the added bonus of slight exposition around the world in a competition branded as the “World Cup” by FIFA)… And that’s about it. The added media coverage for Man U though seems negligable, so there’s also the side that Man U do not want to lose (image). What Man U don’t want is to play against minnows (risk of injury, especially against slow and clumsy players, see Eduardo), and want to be out and back as quickly and effortlessly as possible. LDU Quito probably have the same opinion. But for the AFC, OFC and to a lesser extent CONCACAF and CAF champions, their main advantage is playing against Man U or LDU Quito, who are champions of “better” confederations. Beating either of them grants bragging rights and a crack at the final, with the possibility of becoming the first club in their confederation to be “World Champion”. Oh, and the media coverage about playing Manchester United is probably slightly higher than your average AFC or OFC game, just sayin’.

The real risk if the CWC expands is that either the European champions or the South American champions start to consider that it’s too much of a burden in the middle of the season and send weakened teams. If an AFC/OFC club gets to the final once, it’s a great achievement. But if they start getting there regularly, it will reduce the interest in the competition, knowing fully well that the European Champions are only sending a B team, or resting their key players for the final.

The CWC 2001 never took place for several reasons (including bankrupcy of the organisers), but with 5 games scheduled to win the trophy, mostly against badly-known teams (Real Madrid had to play Jubilo Iwata, Hearts of Oak and LA Galaxy, and I believe only a few specialists can name more than one player in any of those three teams from 2001) over 20-odd days, the clubs weren’t all too happy… How do you do a proper pre-season warm-up when you’re playing games almost as early as players return from holiday (28th July)? Part of the negociations that followed between FIFA and the different confederations agreed on this bizarre format in order to -not- overload the calendar of UEFA and CONCACAF teams, and thus ensure that they wouldn’t pull out of the cup nor send a vastly weakened team.

This would allow some random matches and the hopefully match up of two European teams either in a final or semi final, may have to put them in other side of the bracket.

Each team is guaranteed three games.

4 quarterfinals, 2 semifinals, 2 loser’s bracket, final and 3 placements matches.

Tournament takes 7 to 8 days excluding travel to and from host nation. Only needs two venues with back to back matches.
.Defending champion

Although a lot of it is also timing. A tournament that’s in the middle of the European season almost feels doomed to fail. I know the world doesn’t revolve around Europe, but let’s face it. That’s where all the money is.

A lot of people agree that Milan’s participation in the CWC is the reason they finished 5th.