The FIFA Club World Cup 2008 ( Engl. : FIFA Club World Cup 2008 ) was the fifth edition of this global soccer competition for club teams and was held for the fourth time in a row in Japan from 11 to 21 December. With Manchester United a European team won the title for the second time.
Compared to the previous year, there was no change to the mode of competition. The tournament was held with seven participants. In addition to the six winners of the continental championship competitions at club level from Asia , Africa , the CONCACAF zone , South America , Europe and Oceania, there was also the finalist of the AFC CL Adelaide United , who had to play an elimination match against the winners of the OFC CL, with Gamba Osaka a Japanese team won the AFC CL and a club from the host country did not qualify for its national championship. The winner of the elimination played with the representatives of Africa, Asia and CONCACAF two participants in the semi-finals. For this, the teams from Europe and South America were set as before and only played two games each. As usual, the game was played in the knockout system . In eleven days, eight games took place for the first time, as the game for fifth place was played again.
The "Golden Ball" for the best player of the tournament went to England's Wayne Rooney from Manchester United. The "Silver Ball" went to his teammate in the Red Devils , the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo , and the "Bronze Ball" to the Argentinean Alejandro Manso from Liga de Quito.
FIFA Fair Play Trophy
The Australian club Adelaide United received the fair play prize for correct sporting behavior on and off the pitch .