North Korea

World soccer's governing body FIFA is open to the possibility of North Korea staging matches in the 2002 World Cup finals, which will be jointly hosted by Japan and South Korea, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said.

British Sports Minister Tony Banks has denied a newspaper report claiming England could stage the 2002 World Cup in place of joint hosts South Korea and Japan.

The draw for the 2002 World Cup, the biggest in the tournament's 69-year history, will involve 195 nations and be seen live on Tuesday by a television audience of about one billion people.

South Korea's ruling party is pushing for a unified soccer team with North Korea and for the Stalinist country to host some of the matches in the 2002 World Cup finals, according to a party document released today.

The draw for the 2002 World Cup, the biggest in the tournament's 69-year history, will involve 195 nations and be seen live on Tuesday by a television audience of about one billion people.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it would send an envoy to North Korea to initiate friendly sports exchanges between arch enemies North and South Korea.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter recommended on Thursday that South Korea and Japan co-host the 2001 Confederations Cup to prepare for the following year's World Cup soccer finals in the two countries.

South Korean President Kim Dae-jung has said he hoped an International Olympic Committee initiative to host sports ties between North and South Korea would eventually lead to joint Korean teams for international competitions.

The emperor of Japan, premier of China and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il will be in the stands when next year's World Cup finals kick off, if South Korea's soccer boss has his wish.

Japan's leading football official has expressed surprise that former FIFA president Joao Havelange should say it was a mistake to award the 2002 World Cup jointly to Japan and South Korea.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has left open the possibility of a World Cup match in North Korea when South Korea and Japan co-host soccer's biggest global event next year ? and moved to allay fears over the World Cup in the light of the crisis at ISL. For the full story see the FEATURES section of sportbusiness.com.

Several countries have withdrawn from events in December's Asian Games, officials of host country Thailand have reported.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said that there is still a possibility that North Korea may be able to host some 2002 World Cup matches.

A delegation from soccer's governing body FIFA have given a thumbs up to South Korea's preparations for the 2002 World Cup, including the daunting task of building 10 new stadiums.

South Korea plans this week to discuss cultural and sports exchanges with North Korea - including sharing of some 2002 World Cup soccer matches.

Sepp Blatter, president of soccer’s world governing body FIFA, played down the chances of North Korea hosting any matches in next year's World Cup finals, but said he would still probably visit the country later this year.