FIFA is keeping its fingers crossed that the Club World Championship captures the imagination of fans in Japan and around the world when it kicks off on Sunday.
The six-team tournament begins at Tokyo's National Stadium when Asian champion Al Ittihad takes on African champion Al Ahly in an Arab derby hugely anticipated in the Middle East.
But it won't be until UEFA champion Liverpool and South American title holder Sao Paulo join the tournament at the semifinals stage that the world's eyes will turn to Japan.