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)