Japan hails pick of W. Cup cities

Japan hails pick of W. Cup cities

TOKYO (AFP): The head of the Football Association of Japan hailed South Korea's selection Monday of 10 cities to host the 2002 World Cup finals.

"The organizing committee (for the World Cup), the Football Association of South Korea and other parties concerned made the decision after full consideration, and I am sure it was the best one," said association president Ken Nagamura.

"We hope for the success of the first co-hosting under close contact with local host governments in Japan," he said in a statement.

South Korea said Monday it had picked 10 cities to host the 2002 World Cup finals which it will share with Japan, but that the door remained open for North Korea to hold some matches.

The 2002 World Cup Committee of South Korea said it had chosen Seoul, Pusan, Taegu, Kwangju, Ulsan, Taejon, Inchon, Suwon, Chonju and Sogwipo in Cheju Island.

However, the committee said it had yet to make a final decision on Seoul, which has yet to submit its stadium construction plans.

"We had invited North Korea to participate with us in the World Cup, but we have not yet received anything official from them. And so we can't unilaterally include them," the committee said.

But if North Korea decides to participate, then "we can at least let them stage one match," it said.

In a dramatic change in FIFA's position, president Joao Havelange said last month he would try to visit North Korea next year to offer the Stalinist country the chance to hold some matches.

Havelange also promised to invite North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il and the next South Korean president to next year's World Cup opening ceremonies in France. But FIFA has not yet had a reply from Pyongyang.

Japan will host half of the 64 matches. It has already picked 10 cities, which do not include the capital of Tokyo.