The Chinese team will play its 1st-phase group matches for the 2002
FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan(tm) in the Republic of Korea, the world
soccer governing body
FIFA
announced in Busan of ROK on November 28.
The Organizing Committee for the 2002 FIFA World Cup
Korea/Japan(tm) met in Busan on November 28 for making final draw
and final decisions regarding the procedure and the seeded
teams.
In
view of geographical proximity, economy and other factors, both ROK
Football Association and Japan Football Association agreed to
arrange the Chinese team to play in ROK and this as was reported,
according with ROK’s aspiration, had won FIFA's approval.
Chairman of the ROK Organizing Committee for the 2002 FIFA World
Cup had ever said that they would strive to make China play in ROK
at Wednesday's meeting. According to concerned ROK department, when
ROK's hope should come true, at least 60,000 Chinese fans would fly
into ROK and these would undoubtedly bring great economic benefits
to that country.
(People’s Daily
November 29, 2001)