(Disclosure/Disclosure)
Question – Adriano Dille do Amaral, Viamão, RS
Timão played in the first FIFA Club World Championship as a guest and won the trophy. Since 1960, the European champion and the South American champion, winner of the Libertadores of America, disputed the so-called Mundial Interclubes.
Until, in 2000, FIFA decided to test a new format, with eight teams: six chosen by the continental confederations, plus Real Madrid – world champion in 1998 – and one nominated by the CBF, since Brazil hosted the tournament. Conmebol, the South American football confederation, selected Vasco for the 1998 Libertadores title (Palmeiras, South American champion in 1999, would participate in the 2001 edition of the World Cup, which ended up not happening).
Corinthians entered the dispute after having won the 1998 Brasileirão. But why not the 1999? At the time, the CBF stated that the result of the Brazilian championship would only come out in December, very close to the world championship – which made no difference, since Corinthians was twice champion in 1999. Anyway, Coringão beat Vasco in the final and was world champion without ever having conquered South America.