FC Bayern head to the USA in four days to compete in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. fcbayern.com is counting down to departure and getting you in the mood for the big football event of the summer. Today we look back at Bayern’s four previous wins in what was the Intercontinental Cup and is now the Club World Cup.
1976: Clash of extremes against Cruzeiro
After Bayern had decided not to contest the Intercontinental Cup in 1974 due to scheduling problems and the competition hadn't been held in 1975, the time had finally come in 1976. Following their hat-trick of titles in the European Cup, FCB competed in the Intercontinental Cup for the first time and went on to win the trophy by beating Cruzeiro. Back then, the clash between the winners of the European Cup and the Copa Libertadores involved a particularly intensive travelling schedule over two legs - with two games that could not have been more different in terms of external circumstances. Ahead of the first leg in November, there was chaos due to snow in the Bavarian capital, which caused even the locals quite a few problems.
"We'd previously imagined what the Brazilians would think of the climate, and then our own bus got stuck in the snow on the way," Jupp Kappelmann later recalled in an interview with members’ magazine ‘51’. He almost felt sorry for the Brazilians at the time: "They were shivering with the cold and had no idea what was happening to them. They could see their breath coming out in white puffs - most certainly for the first time in their lives." However, that shouldn't take anything away from Bayern's performance on the day. Goals from Gerd Müller and Kapellmann ("I think that was my most important goal for Bayern”) in the 80th and 82nd minutes saw the home side win 2-0, putting themselves in a good position for the second leg.
This then took place on 21 December at the Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto - a stadium, known as the Mineirão, that German fans will remember fondly from the 2014 World Cup semi-final - under completely different conditions. After a 28-hour flight, including an extended stopover in Paris, the FCB squad only landed in the tropical climate of Belo Horizonte a few hours before kick-off. "We were completely shaken from the flight. In the stadium, 114,000 people were dancing a samba in the stands in the pouring rain," said Kapellmann. And Cruzeiro were out for revenge for the first leg. But the FCB defence, led by Franz Beckenbauer, who once again put in an outstanding performance that day, held firm and Bayern secured the Intercontinental Cup for the first time with a 0-0 draw. Kappelmann's verdict: "We made history."
2001: Kuffour ends long wait
It would be a quarter of a century before the men from Munich would be able to lift the trophy once again. After a magnificent season, the dramatic title decider in Hamburg and the emotional Champions League triumph in Milan against Valencia, FC Bayern were crowned club world champions for the second time on 27 November 2001. This time there was just one game - the venue for the final of the Intercontinental Cup (known for sponsorship reasons at the time as the Toyota Cup) was the Japanese city of Tokyo and the opponents were Boca Juniors from Argentina.
While the South Americans had six days to prepare meticulously for the match and had previously been freed from domestic commitments by the Argentinian FA, Bayern had flown in just the day before. It took Ottmar Hitzfeld's side a long time to get the better of Boca. I twas only in extra-time, in the 109th minute, that Samuel Kuffour put Bayern out of their misery with the opening and only goal on the way to their second Intercontinental Cup triumph.
"My memories of the goal are very clear. It was a corner from Ciri, Ciriaco Sforza, then Thorsten Fink’s header was cleared and Carsten Jancker used his body so I had a clear view. I had to score that goal," the Ghanaian later told ’51'. Kuffour ultimately gained immortality in the hearts of Bayern fans with that game - and it proved to be a bonus not just for the defender: "As the man of the match, I was given a car after the final whistle," said Kuffour with a laugh: "I gave it to my mum. Getting the car from Japan to Ghana was quite expensive, but it was worth it."
2013: Bayern crown their first treble
After becoming the first German team to win the treble in the summer of 2013, it was only fitting that Bayern qualified for the third time for the Club World Cup. In Morocco, FCB were once again competing on a different continent for the third time, and for the third time a new format awaited the men from Munich. More teams were now competing for the trophy, and Pep Guardiola's side first had to overcome Chinese representatives Guangzhou Evergrande in the semi-finals, which they did with a fairly convincing 3-0 win.
Raja Casablanca from the host country then qualified for the final alongside Bayern, somewhat surprisingly. Despite the frenetic support of the local crowd in Marrakesh, FCB lived up to their role as favourites. Dante (7') and new signing Thiago (22') put the Reds ahead early on - and that was ultimately how the game ended. The match itself didn't get any more exciting due to the Bavarian's superiority. At the start, "it was all perhaps a little too easy," said Philipp Lahm afterwards. “We then eased off a bit. When our opponents are as outplayed as they were in the first 35 minutes today, it's not easy for us players."
Either way, Bayern were crowned club world champions for the third time. "I’d say it doesn't get any better than this. You couldn't find a better title," said then CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge about a "year of superlatives" in which Bayern had previously also won the UEFA Super Cup on top of the treble. Naturally, captain Lahm was also delighted: "To win another title at the end of such a brilliant year, and then this one - incredible!"
2021: Most successful year in the club's history
Bayern's fourth Club World Cup title wrapped up the most successful year in the club's history, but it came at an extraordinary time. While the coronavirus pandemic dominated the world stage, the men from Munich won a total of six trophies in one year, from 2020 to 2021 - just the second team ever to do so, after Barcelona in 2009. The Club World Cup in Qatar in February 2021 marked the end of this incredible trophy haul. Due to pandemic, the tournament could not take place as planned in 2020 - and the effects were also felt elsewhere. After the 2-0 semi-final win over Al Ahly of Egypt, Thomas Müller had to withdraw early due to a positive test, while other players, such as Leon Goretzka and Javi Martínez, were unable to even make the trip to Qatar for the same reason.
The final against CONCACAF Champions League winners Tigres from Mexico then took place in front of just 7,411 spectators at the Education City Stadium in Doha. In a match that was evenly poised for a long time, but in which Bayern posed more of a goal threat overall, Benjamin Pavard scored the only goal to win the trophy in the 59th minute.
Despite all the joy at what had been achieved, the special circumstances still resonated a little afterwards. "We won this for everyone who couldn't be here today," said Joshua Kimmich. "It was hard work. But I think we earned it and we left the pitch as deserved winners." The men from Munich had once again made history. "Congratulations to my side, they've certainly achieved something historic," said coach Hansi Flick. "It's certainly the best season the successful Bayern have played, too."
How to watch
Tickets are still available for Bayern’s games in the US. The German record champions are looking forward to plenty of support from their fans. Head HERE for Club World Cup tickets.
All FIFA Club World Cup matches are being broadcast live and for free by streaming service DAZN, although broadcasters will differ in some countries.
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