I have again been accredited by F.I.F.A. (yes, the international soccer hotshots), and shall be travelling to Japan; specifically, Tokyo & Yokohama; to cover its F.I.F.A. Club World Cup Japan 2008.
I will be there from the 10th to the 23rd. This time, I am staying at a facility in Shibuya-ku, closest to the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.
But it is also near the Odakyu Line.

I will be shopping for items on the soccer off-days, and I also anticipate experimenting with ramen restaurants and izekayas.
Yes, I am sure I will finally get to Shimo-Kitazawa.

I hope I will get an outlet for my soccer reportage with somebody on-line. But if everybody declines me, a story or two could wind up here on IJ.

As for the teams, the bookmakers are giving prohibitive odds to Manchester United, the European champion. This is likely due that the South American champion are not from Brazil or Argentina. They are “Liga” [L.D.U. Quito] of Ecuador.
North America is again represented by Pachuca F.C. of Mexico. This was the last year that CONCACAF used a direct knock-out format to select its team. The 2009 format features a group stage, and proceeds to a knock-out final. Pachuca crashed out in their first match last year versus a team from Tunisia.
So, this year, F.I.F.A. restored the fifth place match.
Africa is Al Ahly of Egypt. This is the third time in the four years I have covered the tournament that Al Ahly are the African team.
Gamba Osaka of Japan are the Asian representative. In the two years that F.I.F.A. rejiggered the tournament to include the host nation's domestic champion, to try and increase Japanese attendance of the matches prior to the final; a Japanese team have managed to claim the ‘proper’ spot for Asia. The ‘play-in’ match will feature the Asian runner-up, Adelaide United of Australia, versus Waitakere United of New Zealand. That is the first match, occurring on Wednesday, 11 December at National Stadium in Tokyo.
Al Ahly contest Pachuca on Saturday, 13 December at 13:45 hours [GMT + 9] in Tokyo.
View the tournament bracket here.

F.I.F.A. will move this tournament to the United Arab Emirates in 2009 & 2010. Japan will host it again in 2011 & 2012.
Is there a chance I would travel to the U.A.E. to cover the 2009 tournament?
Yes, but it would necessitate either Montreal IMPACT [Canada] or Puerto Rico ISLANDERS [Puerto Rico - doh], both of the second division of professional soccer in North America, winning out.
Sorry; but I have the impression that the U.A.E. is far too straight-laced for my tastes.