The FIFA Club World Championship supercedes the annual World Club Championship (Toyota Cup) between the champions of Europe and South America.
The second Club World Championship after the first event in Brazil 2000 which featured both Manchester United and Real Madrid will be held in Japan in December 2005 and is known as the FIFA Club World Championship TOYOTA CUP.
The tournament will run from December 11-18 2005.
Club champions from Europe, South America, Oceania, Asia, Africa and Central and North America will compete.
The weather forecast is for cold conditions.
Liverpool (England;
Europe)
Sao Paulo FC (Brazil; South America)
Deportivo Saprissa (Costa Rica; CONCACAF)
FC Sydney (Australia;
Oceania)
Al Ittihad
Jeddah (Saudi Arabia; Asia)
Al Ahly (Egypt; Africa).
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The matches will be played at the 72,000 capacity Yokohama International Stadium (venue for the 2002 World Cup final), the high-tech 45,000 capacity Toyota Stadium in Toyota City (just outside Nagoya) and the older 60,000 capacity National Stadium in Tokyo.
Yokohama International Stadium can be reached in about 40-50 minutes from downtown Tokyo. The stadium is a 10 minute walk from Shin-Yokohama or Kozukue stations on the JR Yokohama Line.
The National Stadium is located in downtown Tokyo and the nearest subway station is Kokuritsu Kyogijo on the Oedo Line. The stadium is also within easy walking distance of both Sendagaya and Shinanomachi stations on the JR Chuo Line.
Toyota Stadium is located in Toyota City, just outside Nagoya. Take the Tsurumai subway line which becomes the Meitetsu Toyota Line after Akaike. From Toyotashi station there are shuttle buses to the stadium or it is a 15 minute walk. Allow about 50 minutes to an hour from Nagoya station.
With no team from the host nation Japan and only the possibility of the aging Kazu Miura turning out for FC Sydney, it is difficult to see anything other than a Liverpool v Sao Paulo final.
Deportivo Saprissa from Costa Rica have shown they can beat the best Mexican sides and they should have too much for the A-League's FC Sydney despite the presence of Dwight Yorke and the 38-year-old "King" Kazu.
The main challenge to Liverpool and Sao Paulo may well come from either the African or Asian champions - Egypt's Al Ahly and Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad. In Asian qualifying the UAE's Al Ain lost out to Saudi powerhouse Al Ittihad in the final. In the African Champions League Egypt's Al Ahly came through a tough qualification campaign.
| Year | Hosts | Winners |
| 2000 | Brazil | Corinthians |
| 2005 | Japan | Sao Paulo |
Visit our Japan travel section for information on hotel and hostel accommodation in Japan, flights to Japan, plus information on trains, buses and ferries.
Keep up with all the action live from Japan on our Club World Championship Blog.
Hostels in Tokyo - Booking.com
Hotels in Tokyo - Booking.com
Tokyo: Entertainment: Bars, Restaurants, Clubs in Tokyo