Final match in Japan
FIFA announced in Zurich on Nov. 6 that the opening game and ceremony for the 2002 World Cup
will be held in S. Korea, while Japan will host the final match and closing ceremony.
A disappointment to the Japan side was that it seems unlikely that all 15 Japanese cities
preparing for the World Cup will be able to host a match.
Host of 2002 declared
Soccer's world governing body, FIFA announced on May 31 that the host of the year 2002 World Cup
will not be "a country", but both South Korea and Japan. FIFA has broken the one-country
host rule. Both countries are shocked at this unprecedented decision. The question now is
who is going to take the initiative in running the world's most popular sporting event.