1. The Confederations Cup evolved out of a competition called the King Fahd Cup. Where was the competition held?
The King Fahd Cup was held in 1992 and 1995 in Saudi Arabia. In 1997 the first Fifa Confederations Cup was also held in Saudi Arabia.
2. How many countries participate in the Confederations Cup?
Eight teams.
3. Which country won the first Confederations Cup in 1997?
Brazil beat Australia 6-0.
4. What is the biggest aggregate score at the Confederations Cup and which countries participated in the game?
The biggest aggregate score is 10 goals when Brazil beat Saudi Arabia 8-2 in 1999.
5. Who is the player with the most appearances in the Confederations Cup?
Brazilian goalkeeper Dida played in all but one of the matches that the South American country has played at the Confederations Cup (and he missed that because of squad rotation).
6. What changes did Fifa introduce for the 2005 edition of the competition?
From 2005 the Confederations Cup is held every four years in the country in which the World Cup will be held the following year, thus giving the country a trial run for the World Cup finals.
7. Which country has won the Confederations Cup the most times?
France and Brazil share the honours, having both won twice.
8. Who is the all-time Confederations Cup top scorer?
Brazilian Ronaldinho and Mexican Cuauhtemoc Blanco have each scored nine goals.
9. The 2003 final between Cameroon and France was a very subdued affair. Why?
Cameroon player Marc-Vivien Foe had collapsed and died on the field during his side’s semifinal victory against Colombia.
10. Which countries will be participating in the Confederations Cup for the first time in South Africa?
Spain, Italy and Iraq have never participated in the competition before. — dpa
Fixtures
Group stage:
Sunday, June 14:
South Africa vs Iraq at Ellis Park (4pm)
Spain vs New Zealand at Royal Bafokeng Stadium (8.30pm)
Monday, June 15:
Brazil vs Egypt at Free State Stadium (4pm)
USA vs Italy at Loftus (8.30pm)
Wednesday, June 17:
Spain vs Iraq at Free State Stadium (4pm)
South Africa vs New Zealand at Royal Bafokeng (8.30pm)
Thursday, June 18:
USA vs Brazil at Loftus (4pm)
Egypt vs Italy at Ellis Park (8.30pm)
Saturday, June 20:
Iraq vs New Zealand at Ellis Park (8.30pm)
Spain vs South Africa at Free State Stadium (8.30pm)
Sunday, June 21:
Italy vs Brazil at Loftus (8.30pm)
Egypt vs USA at Royal Bafokeng (8.30pm)
Semifinals:
June 24:
Winner A vs Runner-up B at Free State Stadium (8.30pm)
June 25:
Winner B vs Runner-up A at Ellis Park (8.30pm)
Playoff for third place:
3pm, Sunday, June 28 (Royal Bafokeng)
Final: Sunday, June 28 at Ellis Park (8.30pm)
Past winners
1992: Argentina, beat Saudi Arabia 3-1
1995: Denmark, beat Argentina 2-0
1997: Brazil, beat Australia 6-0
1999: Mexico, beat Brazil 4-3
2001: France, beat Japan 1-0
2003: France, beat Cameroon 1-0
2005: Brazil, beat Argentina 4-1—dpa