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.