Brazil won their fourth Confederations Cup title in the first national team tournament to use goal-line technology, serving as a World Cup dress rehearsal.
Key Facts
- Tournament edition
- 9th FIFA Confederations Cup
- Host nation
- Brazil
- Final score
- Brazil 3–0 Spain
- Brazil's Confederations Cup titles
- 4 (1997, 2005, 2009, 2013)
- Duration
- 15–30 June 2013
- First use of goal-line technology
- In any national team tournament
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The FIFA Confederations Cup was staged as a preparatory event ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The field included winners of six continental championships, host Brazil, and UEFA Euro 2012 runners-up Italy, who qualified after Spain—the Euro 2012 winners—had already secured a spot as reigning World Cup holders.
The tournament was held across Brazil from 15 to 30 June 2013. Brazil, the two-time defending champion, defeated Spain 3–0 in the final to claim their fourth Confederations Cup title and third consecutive one. The competition was the first national team tournament to employ goal-line technology throughout.
Brazil's victory reinforced their status as the dominant force in the Confederations Cup, while the successful deployment of goal-line technology paved the way for its adoption at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. FIFA president Sepp Blatter declared the 2013 edition the finest version of the tournament ever held.