European club champions Manchester United are facing a major dilemma ahead of next January's inaugural FIFA World Club Championship.

United have earned the right to represent Europe in the eight-team event. The venue has yet to be named but Brazil is seen as favourite. United already have to cope with the 38-game Premiership, the expanded Champions' League, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup final in Tokyo with the winners of South America's Copa Libertadores, which has until now decided the unofficial title of world club champions.

The new World Club Championship will be a two-week event which would cause major disruption to United's calendar and to win it United would have to play five games.

It is thought that the English Football Association would be eager for United to compete as they are keen to keep good relations with FIFA as they bid for the 2006 World Cup.

But United's deputy chief executive Peter Kenyon said "The calendar is so crowded there is just not enough room for another competition."

FIFA will name the host country for the tournament on Wednesday and it remains to be seen if United take up their invitation.