Club World Cup champions to get $4.5m windfall

TOKYO, Sep 15 (Reuters) The winners of this year's FIFA Club World Cup will receive 4.5 million dollars -- the same as in 2005, organisers said today.

A total of million in prize money will be on offer for the six teams involved in the December 10-17 tournament in Japan.

European champions Barcelona and South American Libertadores Cup winners Internacional of Brazil will be seeded and favourites to win the second edition of the revamped competition.

New Zealand's Auckland City and Central American champions Club America of Mexico will also take part, alongside the winners of the Asian and African continental titles, yet to be decided.

Brazil's Sao Paulo beat Liverpool 1-0 in last year's final in Yokohama.

FIFA staged the first world club championship six years ago in Brazil, but pulled the plug on the competition in 2001 after the collapse of their marketing partner ISMM/ISL.

Meanwhile, Japan Football Association president Saburo Kawabuchi has expressed confidence the country will stage the tournament until 2007, according to Japanese newspapers.

FIFA's executive committee is scheduled to convene later today to decide next year's venue.

REUTERS DH VV1446