Fifa Ramps Up Club World Cup Prize Money

FIFA has provided further incentives to competing clubs in the much criticized
Club World Cup by increasing the prize money for 2007 to $16m and has also put
forward that Japan remain the host of the tournament in 2008.

The Club World Cup, which is vehemently opposed in many circles due to
further congestion of the annual fixture list, pits the champions of each
continent against each other.

The 2007 tournament is scheduled to take place in Japan, kicking off a new
seven-team, seven-match competition format on 7th December with a play-off
between a host association representative and the OFC club champion, concluding
on 16th December with the final in Yokohama.

Based on the success of previous tournaments, the 2007 event will again be
played in three venues: National Stadium in Tokyo (approximately 48,000 seats),
Toyota Stadium (approximately 36,000 seats) and International Stadium Yokohama
(approximately 68,000 seats).

The organising committee has decided to increase the prize money by $1m for
the 2007 event to $16m. The champion will take home $5m, the runner-up will net
$4m, and 3rd place ($2.5m), 4th place ($2m), the two 5th-placed teams ($1m) and
7th place ($500,000) will all receive handsome payouts as well.