Brazil has four teams, more than any other country, in the expanded Club World Cup that kicked off yesterday in the US, but for SE Palmeiras, the competition holds a special meaning: winning it would provide some redemption.
Under coach Abel Ferreira since 2020, Palmeiras lifted two Copa Libertadores titles, plus Brazilian league, cup and state championships. Even before Ferreira, it boasted another South American crown and 11 league titles.
The only major trophy missing is a world champions’ title.
Photo: AFP
Other Brazilian clubs like Fluminense FC and Botafogo FR, also in the tournament, have never won it either, but the problem for Palmeiras and its 16 million fans stems from its three local rivals — SC Corinthians, Sao Paulo FC, and Santos FC — having all won it at least twice.
That has led to more than two decades of memes, jokes and insults. It could all come back for the third time in five years for Palmeiras.
“It’s true that we have a 10 percent chance of winning this tournament,” Ferreira said last month. “So we’ll fight for these 10 percent starting with our first goal, getting through the group stage. We deserve to be there.”
Palmeiras qualified as 2021 Copa Libertadores winners. Its group stage rivals are Portugal’s FC Porto, Egypt’s Al Ahly SC, and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.
Fans like Matheus Flor see a better chance of “ending the world title curse” later this year in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, a shorter format with fewer teams, if Palmeiras wins its fourth Copa Libertadores title.
“The shortened version is more feasible; playing a European team just once in a final gives us more hope,” Flor said. “This time, I think we’re not too excited because we know the joke will likely continue.”
Key Palmeiras players, like 18-year-old winger Estevao, midfielder Raphael Veiga and defender Gustavo Gomez, might not remain after the tournament.
Palmeiras has had three earlier shots at a world title. In 1999, they lost the Intercontinental Cup 1-0 to Manchester United. Twenty-two years later, they suffered a 1-0 semifinal defeat to Mexico’s Tigres UANL in the Club World Cup, finishing fourth. A year later, more heartbreak came with a 2-1 extra time loss to Chelsea FC.
Many Palmeiras fans cling to the 1951 Copa Rio title as world champion status, although FIFA does not officially equate it with the Intercontinental Cup and modern Club World Cup. The Copa Rio saw Palmeiras beat Juventus FC 3-2 on aggregate.
Palmeiras finished the current Copa Libertadores group stage with the most points and is also contending for the league title.
Its first Club World Cup match is today against Porto in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Most soccer fans in Sao Paulo would likely be watching.
Ever-hopeful Palmeiras fan Flor is pleased his team is once again the focus of rivals.
“Of course we want to end the joke forever, but no club’s greatness depends on lifting this title. We’re already great, the biggest winner in Brazil for a very long time,” Flor said. “One day we’ll get it, and they’ll all shut up.”
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