MONTERREY, Mexico -- Monterrey departed Mexico on Monday, starting a long journey that will bring the 2011/12 CONCACAF Champions League winner to Japan for the ninth FIFA Club World Cup.

Dozens of chanting and singing fans met the team at the airport to bid farewell, as well show their support.

The players took time to pose for photos before getting on a flight that took them first to Los Angeles for the evening, before continuing on to Tokyo.

Monterrey will open the competition with a December 9 quarterfinal game against Ulsan Hyundai of the Korea Republic. If the Rayados come out victorious, an encounter against European champion Chelsea awaits four days later.

This is Monterrey's second-consecutive Club World Cup appearance. Last year, it lost to Japan's Kashiwa Reysol on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals, before bouncing back with a 3-2 win over Esperance Sportive de Tunis in the match for fifth place.