FIFA crowns five champions in 2009
Posted on 27 December 2009 in FIFA
FIFA crowned five new champions in 2009, including Brazil's men's national team at the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009. Brazil won gold at both South Africa 2009 and the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Dubai 2009.Ghana won gold at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009, Switzerland won gold at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009, and FC Barcelona won gold at the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009.
At the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009, Brazil overcame an 0-2 deficit to win 3:2 over USA in the final. USA was the lone CONCACAF representative in the eight-team tournament; it qualified for South Africa 2009 by winning the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
At the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009, FC Barcelona of Spain won gold with a 2:1 a.e.t. victory over Estudiantes de La Plata of Argentina. FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi scored the winning goal in extra time of the final. CONCACAF representative Atlante FC (the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League winner) finished fourth at the seven-team tournament.
At the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009, Ghana won gold on kicks from the penalty mark following an 0:0 draw with Brazil in the final. Costa Rica, Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago and USA all represented CONCACAF at the 24-team tournament. At the FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009, Switzerland won 1:0 over host Nigeria in the final. Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico and USA all represented CONCACAF at the 24-team tournament.
At the annual FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Dubai 2009, Brazil won 10:5 over Switzerland in the final. Costa Rica and El Salvador were the two CONCACAF representatives at the 16-team tournament.
As for the world's best players at these championships, Brazil's Kaka won the Golden Ball at South Africa 2009 while FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball at UAE 2009. At the men's youth tournaments, Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah won the Golden Ball at Egypt 2009 and Nigeria's Sani Emmanuel won the Golden Ball at Nigeria 2009. Switzerland's Dejan Stankovic won the Golden Ball at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Dubai 2009.
Of note in 2009, Canada's Hector Vergara was appointed as an assistant referee to both the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 and the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009.
