FIFA inspects W. Cup readiness

FIFA inspects W. Cup readiness

SEOUL (AP): A five-member delegation from FIFA, soccer's world governing body, arrived in Seoul Monday to inspect preparations for the 2002 World Cup to be co-hosted with Japan.

The delegation, led by Antonio Matarrese, a FIFA vice president, is scheduled to visit the sites in Seoul and several other cities where South Korea plans to build stadiums for the first World Cup ever to be held in Asia.

Ten South Korean cities, including Seoul, Pusan and Ulsan, have applied to stage the South Korean portion of the World Cup. The main stadium in Seoul is in the initial stage of construction.

On the basis of the findings of its delegation, FIFA plans to fix the host cites in South Korea and Japan by May of next year.