Barcelona handed extra day's rest at Club World Cup

TOKYO, Oct 12 (Reuters) European champions Barcelona will have a slight edge at this year's FIFA Club World Cup after being given an extra day's rest in today's draw in Tokyo.

The Spaniards play either Central American champions Club America of Mexico or the eventual winners of this year's Asian Champions League in their opening game in Yokohama on Dec. 14.

South America's Libertadores Cup winners Internacional of Brazil play a day earlier in Tokyo against Oceania champions Auckland City or whoever wins Africa's continental title.

Barcelona and Internacional both received byes into the semi-finals.

Auckland will face the eventual African champions in the opening game in Toyota on Dec. 10 while Club America meet the Asian champions in Tokyo a day later.

The final will be in Yokohama on Dec. 17.

Brazil's Sao Paulo beat Liverpool 1-0 in last year's final in the first edition of the revamped FIFA tournament.

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 marketing partner ISMM/ISL.

REUTERS AY DS1401