Sepp Blatter, the president of FIFA, expressed great satisfaction with the overall organization of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. In a 30-minute press conference in Yokohama, Japan, Blatter stated that the quality of football in the first 48 matches has been excellent and awarded very high scores to the Japanese and Korean organizers of the 17th World Cup. He mentioned that considering the success of the games so far, he believes the decision to hold the tournament in Asia was the right one. However, Blatter acknowledged that there were issues regarding ticket sales, as large sections of the stadiums in both Korea and Japan were empty during the first round of matches. He stated that FIFA intends to investigate the ticket sales issue and hopes to implement a better system by the 2006 games in Germany. Blatter also praised the success of the Japanese and South Korean football teams, which advanced to the second round, noting that their achievement is significant not only for Asia but for the entire football world. He added that the success of South Korea and Japan, along with teams like Senegal and the USA, indicates that the gap between newcomers and traditional football powers has significantly narrowed. Defending champion France and two-time world champion Argentina were eliminated in the first round. According to Blatter, there are no longer weak teams in the scene.
FIFA's High Scores for World Cup Organizers
FIFA President Sepp Blatter praised the organization of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, highlighting the excellent quality of football and the success of Asian teams. Despite some ticket sales issues, he believes the tournament's success reflects a narrowing gap between traditional football powers and newcomers.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Sepp Blatter praised the organization and quality of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, despite some ticket sales issues. He noted the success of Asian teams as a sign of the narrowing gap in global football competition.
- Blatter awarded high scores to the organizers for their efforts.
- The tournament saw significant performances from Asian teams, including Japan and South Korea.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The 2002 World Cup was the first held in Asia, representing a crucial moment for the sport's development in the region. The tournament's organization and outcomes were closely watched as indicators of football's future.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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