History Beckons for World Club Cup Winners

In theory, the FIFA World Club Cup (FWCC for the purposes of this article) should evoke thoughts of Manchester United facing Boca Juniors, of Barcelona taking on Flamengo, and other such mouthwatering fixtures.

Gamba Osaka squaring off against Adelaide United doesn't exactly capture the imagination, but that is one of the fixtures that this year's FWCC has produced. Based on that, it is only natural for people to think of it as a nothing competition, just another FIFA money spinner.

For now, that reasoning may still be valid. In the future, less so.

The competition is now down to two teams, European champions, Manchester United and The Copa Libertadores winners LDU Quito of Ecuador. The two will meet in this Sunday's final, competing for the right to call themselves World Champions.

That's right, there is a chance that after the game, LDU Quito may be able to proclaim that they are the "best team in the world."

Based on that, a lack of interest, especially from European-based fans is, to a degree, understandable. But even back in "the old days" of the Intercontinental Cup, this was the case.

In South America, it is a different story altogether. In terms of club football, the term of World Champions is considered the pinnacle; a two-fingered salute to the money laden Europeans.

The FWCC has the potential to, in the future, mean as much to European clubs and their fans, as it does to their South American counterparts. FIFA are placing a lot of faith in a tournament that brings the champions from each continent together. Whether this faith is miss-placed or not, remains to be seen.

Should a team like LDU Quito face a surprise Champions League winning side in the future, a team who are not held in such high regard as Manchester United, AC Milan, or Real Madrid, then the FWCC's stock will fall dramatically. What then?

Would it go the same way as the Champions League, where almost three quarters of the sides competing are not champions at all? The introduction of teams who have not earned the right to be in the competition would devalue a tournament already under intense scrutiny.

But what if FIFA's plans come together? What if this tournament throws up fixtures worthy of its title?

The Oceana representatives will always be there to make up the numbers, unfortunately. Gamba Osaka demonstrated against Manchester United that they were capable going forward, producing some nice attacking football (their defending left a lot to be desired, on the other hand) and showed that Asian football is going in the right direction.

Africa produces some fine players, and teams like Zamalek and Al-Ahly, both of Egypt, have massive followings. Their presence at the competition will always be welcome.

That leaves North and South America and Europe. It is likely that the North will normally be represented by a Mexican team (Pachuca being this year's entry), unless MLS teams can improve dramatically. We already know what the South Americans and Europeans bring to the table.

A good final this year will be key to the FWCC's future well-being. Manchester United have taken a strong squad to Japan, and Sir Alex Ferguson knows well the prestige that the title brings. LDU Quito, while not being a team filled with household names will be a hard side to beat.

They will go into the match with the mentality of all South American teams in this fixture, that this is the most important club game of their careers.

It may take some time, but maybe one day, European clubs will adopt the same attitude.

A strong performance from Manchester United will go some way to ensuring that is the case.