FIFA inspectors arrive in South Korea

July 22 – A FIFA delegation has arrived in South Korea on the second leg of its tour to inspect bidders to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The five-member team, led by Chilean Football Federation President Harold Mayne-Nicholls, landed at Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport to start a four-day trip.

The team is to inspect stadiums, communication facilities and a national football training centre in South Korea, before travelling on to Australia on Sunday.

The FIFA team inspected Japan before coming to South Korea.

“We hope we’ll receive all the information needed for our assessment report,” said Mayne-Nicholls.

During their four-day visit, the inspection team is expected to check stadiums, training centers and broadcasting facilities in Korea before heading to Australia on Sunday.

Tomorrow, the delegation are due to visit Seoul World Cup Stadium, the proposed venue for the 2022 World Cup final.

The arena was used in the 2002 World Cup, co-hosted by Korean and Japan, and will be upgraded by 2022 if Korea is chosen to host the tournament on December 2 by FIFA, the bid committee said.

The inspection team are also due to visit KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, which would be used for the World Cup draw and the Paju National Football Centre.

Han Sung-joo, the chairman of South Korea’s bid, had claimed before the inspectors arrival that their campaign is in an advanced position compared to its competitors thanks to its experience in 2002.

“We have the reputation and habit of delivering what we promise very well,” said Han.

South Korea became the first Asian country to reach the semif-inals of the World Cup during the 2002 tournament and at this summer’s World Cup in South Africa, the team made it to the second round of the tournament for the first time on foreign soil.