Fox Soccer Channel has announced that Manchester United’s FIFA Club World Cup 2008 games will be shown live on its network in the United States.

The first game involving Man United will be shown on Thursday, December 18 at 5:30am ET when United will play one of the following opponents: LDU Quito (Ecuador), Gamba Osaka (Japan), Al Ahly (Egypt), Pachuca (Mexico), Waitakere United (New Zealand) or Adelaide United (Australia).

If Manchester United wins that game, they’ll play in the final on Sunday, December 21st, which will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel at 2:30am ET.

No English team has ever won the world club championship. The Club World Cup is an annual tournament that brings together the reigning champions of FIFA’s six major continental competitions, all vying to become the world’s best club team of 2008.

Manchester United came close to winning the tournament in 2000 when they traveled to Brazil in controversial circumstances (they were allowed to skip the FA Cup that season). They drew against Necaxa 1-1, lost to Vasco da Gama 3-1 and then beat South Melbourne 2-0. Unfortunately United missed out on qualifying for the third place match on goal difference.

Fox Soccer Channel’s coverage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2008 presented by Toyota commences on Wednesday, Dec. 11 with the opening playoff match and continues with both quarterfinal matches, both semifinal matches, the third and fifth place match along with the final, taking place at International Stadium Yokohama on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 5 a.m. ET.