FIFA Club World Cup returns to Japan

Madrid: The FIFA Club World Cup will return to Japan in December 2015 and 2016, three years after it last hosted the competition, FIFA announced on Thursday.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke explained that the Japan Football Association's experience in organising a number of major tournaments will go a long way to ensuring the event's success.

Japan, which has previously hosted the tournament for eight consecutive years, will welcome the games once again between December 10 and December 20.

"This is a country with a proven track record when it comes to staging FIFA events, including six editions of the FIFA Club World Cup. We know it will be a superb setting once again for this annual competition with good-sized crowds and a wonderful atmosphere," said Valcke.

Meanwhile, Japan Football Association president Kuniya Daini stressed the importance of the FIFA Club World Club for Japan as it represents a "valuable opportunity for both players and fans to witness the world trends in club football".

The first FIFA Club World Cup was held in Brazil in 2000, and then stayed with Japan from 2005 to 2012, after which it was hosted by the United Arab Emirates and then by Morocco in 2014.