There are just a few days to go before the beginning of the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016, which will be contested from 8 to 18 December. Naturally, FIFA.com will be covering all the action extensively and throughout this week we will be shining the spotlight on the Land of the Rising Sun and the contenders for the global club crown: Auckland City, Club America, Real Madrid, Atletico Nacional, Mamelodi Sundowns, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and hosts Kashima Antlers.

We will be giving you the lowdown on each of the participants' ambitions and hopes ahead of Thursday's opening game between Kashima Antlers and Auckland City. Our site will be a one-stop shop for fans looking to follow the event closely, bringing you everything from previews to match reports, interviews, photos, videos and more.

On 2 December, FIFA announced the names of the players and coaches that are in the running for The Best FIFA Football Awards™ glory. Now the finalists and supporters face a tantalising wait before the winners are revealed at the spectacular ceremony to be staged in Zurich on 9 January 2017. In the meantime this week, FIFA.com will be recapping the The Best FIFA Men's Player 2016 and The Best FIFA Women's Player 2016 candidates' highlights from over the course of the year, in images. We will also be getting the views of Franco Baresi and tennis ace Gael Monfils, the latter of whom will be lifting the lid on his passion for the beautiful game and its leading lights.

Two other interviews coming your way over the coming days have a distinct FIFA World Cup™ flavour to them: Peter Shilton will be taking us on a trip down memory lane, while Aleksandr Anyukov will be looking to the future and talking shop about his hometown of Samara, a Russia 2018 venue. On the women's football side, meanwhile, one of the main items on the menu will be a review of the CAF Africa Women's Cup of Nations Cameroon 2016.

There is plenty more in store besides the above, including, of course, all of our regular features and a steady supply of statistics, videos and photos. Have a fantastic week full of football on FIFA.com.