Fifa Club World Cup 2016
The FIFA Club World Cup 2015 will be held in Japan with games taking place at Suita City Stadium, just outside Osaka in Suita and the home stadium of Gamba Osaka and at International Stadium Yokohama, the venue for the 2002 World Cup final.
The 2016 tournament will run from December 8-18 2016.
Club champions from Europe (Champions League winners), South America (Libertadores Cup winners), Oceania (OFC Champions League winners), Asia (Asian Champions League winners), Africa (CAF Champions League winners) and Central and North America (CONCACAF Champions Cup winners) will compete along with Kashima Antlers (J. League winners) representing the host nation.
Club World Cup Teams
Real Madrid (Spain; Europe/UEFA)
Atlético Nacional (Colombia; South America/CONMEBOL)
Club América (Mexico; CONCACAF)
Auckland City (New Zealand; Oceania)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea; Asia/AFC)
J-League Champions (Kashima Antlers; Japan; Asia/AFC)
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa; Africa/CAF).
Match Schedule
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Stadiums
The matches will be played at the nearly 40,000-capacity Suita City Stadium in Osaka and the 72,000 capacity Yokohama International Stadium (venue for the 2002 World Cup final), which is about 40 minutes or less from Tokyo.
Predictions
Real Madrid, winner in 2014, are the bookies' favourites to win the Fifa Club World Cup. Gareth Bale is missing through injury but stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Tony Kroos should see Real overcome Atlético Nacional in the expected final.
Atlético Nacional from Medellin and once owned by drug baron Pablo Escobar are currently Colombia's top club are have fielded a number of the country's top stars: René Higuita, Andrés Escobar, Faustino Asprilla, Ivan Cordoba, Juan Pablo Ángel, Juan Camilo Zúñiga (now at Watford in the Premier League), and Arsenal keeper David Ospina. Atlético Nacional were the club due to face Chapecoense in the final of the Copa Sudamericana before the Brazilian team's plane crash on the way to the game.
Jeonbuk Motors of Korea's K-League Classic are this year's Asian Champions League winner coming through against UAE's Al Ain in the final.
Flying the flag for Oceania and New Zealand soccer are Auckland City who have appeared at this stage before eight times and always given a good account of themselves. In 2009 they beat the hosts in Abu Dhabi, Al Ahli and TP Mazembe Englebert, the then champions of Africa.
Mexican side Club América from Mexico City are the most successful and best-supported Mexican side and should bring a good following to Japan. Oribe Peralta scored twice for Mexico in the final of the 2012 Olympic tournament in London.
Mamelodi Sundowns from Pretoria have been Premier Soccer League champions seven times since its inception in 1996. They are owned by mining magnate Patrice Motsepe.
The home side is Kashima Antlers who won the J-League Championship in a play-off with Urawa Reds despite finishing way behind the Reds in the overall standings. Kashima should beat Auckland to set up a quarter-final match with Mamelodi Sundowns.
| Year | Hosts | Winners |
| 2000 | Brazil | Corinthians |
| 2005 | Japan | Sao Paulo |
| 2006 | Japan | Internacional |
| 2007 | Japan | AC Milan |
| 2008 | Japan | Manchester United |
| 2009 | Abu Dhabi | Barcelona |
| 2010 | Abu Dhabi | Inter |
| 2011 | Japan | Barcelona |
| 2012 | Japan | Corinthians |
| 2013 | Morocco | Bayern Munich |
| 2014 | Morocco | Real Madrid |
| 2015 | Japan | Barcelona |
Blog
Keep up with all the action live from Japan on our Club World Cup Blog.
Arriving in Japan For The 2016 Tournament
Recommended Hotels in Japan
Book Hotel Accommodation in Japan
Search Hotels in Japan - Agoda
Book Hotels in Osaka - Agoda
Hotels in Tokyo - Agoda