SEOUL, Jan 27 (Reuters) – French champions Olympique Lyon and seven other top club sides from around the world are to meet for the second Peace Cup tournament in South Korea in July.
The competition is supported by Reverend Moon Sun-myung’s Unification Church, which views the contest between clubs from four continents as a way of promoting world peace.
Also taking part are Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, who won the inaugural event in 2003, English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, Real Sociedad of Spain, Boca Juniors of Argentina, South American champions Once Caldas of Colombia, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and local side Seognam Ilhwa.
The top finishers from two leagues will advance to the final, with $2 million awarded to the winner and $500,000 to the loser.
The July 15-24 event is being organised by the Sunmoon Soccer Foundation for Peace, which is linked to the Unification Church, whose followers are commonly known as ‘Moonies’ after their founder.
Organisers have previously said there would be no overt religious overtone during the competition.
Matches will be played at the stadiums across South Korea that were used during the 2002 World Cup.