2003 FIFA Confederation Cup

History

The first two Cups were played as Intercontinental Championship. Starting with the third, the cup changed its name to Confederation Cup.

1992 Intercontinental Championship

Held in Saudi Arabia with only 4 Confederation Champions:
Saudi Arabia - AFC - 1988 Asian Cup winner
Ivory Coast - CAF - 1992 African Cup of Nations winner.
USA - CONCACAF - 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup winner
Argentina - CONMEBOL - 1991 Copa America winner

Argentina won the first cup by beating Saudi Arabia 3-1 in the final. USA beat Ivory Coast for the third place.

1995 Intercontinental Championship

Held in Saudi Arabia again. UEFA joined the competition and Saudi Arabia played as the Host nation:
Japan - AFC - 1992 Asian Cup winner
Nigeria - CAF - 1994 African Cup of Nations winner
Mexico - CONCACAF - 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup winner
Argentina - CONMEBOL - 1993 Copa America winner
Denmark - UEFA - 1992 European Championship winner
Saudi Arabia - Host

The games started with the Group stage. Denmark won the Group A with penalties over Mexico and Saudi finished last. Argentina won the second group over Nigeria with better goal average. Japan was last.
There were no semifinals. In the third place game Mexico beat Nigeria with penalties and Denmark won the cup by beating Argentina 2-0.

1997 FIFA Confederations Cup

Held in Saudi Arabia again. OFC joined the competition:
UAE - AFC - 1996 Asian Cup runner-up (replacing Saudi Arabia)
South Africa - CAF - 1996 African Cup of Nations winner
Mexico - CONCACAF - 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup winner
Uruguay - CONMEBOL - 1995 Copa America winner
Australia - OFC - representing Oceania
Czech Republic - UEFA - 1996 European Championship runner-up (replacing Germany)
Brazil - World Cup Winner
Saudi Arabia - Host (also 1996 Asian Cup winner)

The games started with the Group stage. Brazil won the Group A ahead of Australia, Mexico was third and Saudi Arabia fourth. Uruguay won the Group B ahead of Czech Republic, UAE was third and South Africa fourth. Brazil beat Czechs at the first semi and Australia upset Uruguay in extra time to reach the final in the second. Czech Republic won the third place game 1-0 over Uruguay. Brazil won the cup by beating Australia 6-0 in the final.

1999 FIFA Confederations Cup

Held in Mexico.
Saudi Arabia - AFC - 1996 Asian Cup winner
Egypt - CAF - 1998 African Cup of Nations winner
USA - CONCACAF - 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup runner-up (replacing Mexico)
Bolivia - CONMEBOL - 1997 Copa America runner-up (replacing Brazil)
New Zealand - OFC - 1998 Oceania Nations Cup winner
Germany - UEFA - 1996 European Championship winner (replacing 98 World Cup winner France)
Brazil - Holders (also 1997 Copa America winner)
Mexico - Host (also 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup winner)

The games started with the Group stage. Mexico won the Group A ahead of Saudi Arabia, Bolivia was third and Egypt fourth. Brazil won the Group B ahead of USA, Germany was third and New Zealand fourth. Brazil beat Saudi Arabia at the first semi and Mexico needed extra time to beat USA to reach the final in the second. USA won the third place game 2-0 over Saudi Arabia. Mexico won the cup by beating Brazil 4-3 in the final.

2001 FIFA Confederations Cup

Held in South Korea and Japan.
Cameroon - CAF - 2000 African Cup of Nations winner
Canada - CONCACAF - 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup winner
Brazil - CONMEBOL - 1999 Copa America winner
Australia - OFC - 2000 Oceania Nations Cup winner
France - UEFA - Euro2000 winner and 1998 World Cup winner
Mexico - Holders
Japan - Host
South Korea - Host

The games started with the Group stage. Top three nations in Group A was seperated by goal average only. France winning the group, Australia finishing second over South Korea, holders Mexico finished the group last. Japan won the Group B ahead of Brazil, Cameroon was third and Canada fourth. Japan beat Australia at the first semi and France beat Brazil in the second. Australia won the third place game 1-0 over Brazil. France won the cup by beating Japan 1-0 in the final.