Paul D Lux Chicago, Ill. Why is Vasco da Gama going to play in the World Club Championships in Brasil? Palmeiras is the current Libertadores Cup champion. Vasco already played in the Toyota Cup and the Interamerica Cup. Is this purely currupt politics? Mike Woitalla: The World Club Championship will be played Jan. 5-14, 2000, in Brazil. Some clubs were picked by virtue of 1998 titles and some by 1999 titles. For example, Necaxa instead of D.C. United (the 1998 CONCACAF Champions Cup winner). Here’s how the World Club Championship field was selected. Read into it what you may: African entrant. Winner of the 1999 African Champions League (to be decided Dec. 12). Al-Nasr (Saudi Arabia). Winner of the 1998 Asian Super Cup. Corinthians (Brazil). Brazilian champion (host country). Manchester United (England). Winner of the 1999 European Champions League. Necaxa (Mexico). Winner of the 1999 CONCACAF Champions Cup. Real Madrid (Spain). Winner of 1998 Toyota Cup. South Melbourne (Australia). Winner of 1999 Oceania Champions Cup. Vasco da Gama (Brazil). Winner of the 1998 Copa Libertadores. (If you have a question for a Soccer America Magazine editor, click “Q&A with SA Editors” in the left column of the home page under “Interactive.”)