Press Release, Samoa Soccer Media, Apia
The FIFA Club World Championship is to replace the Toyota Cup from 2005
Tuanaimato Breeze will be Samoa’s representative.
The FIFA Club World Championship will replace the Toyota Cup from 2005 onwards. With a new six-team format, the tournament will next be held in Tokyo from 11 to 18 December 2005.
From 2005 onwards, the FIFA Club World Championship will take place each year with annual prize money of USD 15 million. In addition, FIFA will bear all of the costs for the teams and confederation/FIFA delegations.
The FIFA Club World Championship will have the six confederations' champions play a total of seven matches over an eight-day period. The European and South American teams will each play only two matches.
The 2005 CWC will be held in December 2005 with the OFC Club Championship preliminary competition - involving ten teams - to take place between November 1, 2004 and March 31, 2005.
The final round - a round robin tournament involving eight teams- is to be held in Papeete, Tahiti from June 18 to 26, 2005.
Tuanaimato Breeze will represent Samoa, having triumphed in the recent Champ of Champs Competition, whilst Oceania's representative at the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship (CWC) will pocket a cool $US1million ($A1.43million).
A ‘cool’ incentive for The Breeze who will first have to take on the PNG Champions Sobou in Lae, PNG, in a two legged qualifier on March 4th and 6th with the winner progressing to the final round in Tahiti in June.
Team management are currently planning the campaign and funds permitting the team will play a number of warm up games in Queensland, Australia on the way to Lae via Brisbane and Port Moresby.
National Coach and Technical Director David Brand