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FIFA chief: North Korea can share 2002 World Cup finals
SEOUL (AP) -- The head of the world's soccer governing body said Sunday he will try to persuade North Korea to share the 2002 World Cup finals in a co-host role with rival South Korea.Joao Havelange of FIFA also said he will invite the state heads of the two Koreas to the opening of next year's World Cup finals in Paris as part of his efforts to help reconcile the rival countries through sports.
South Korea, co-host of the 2002 World Cup with Japan, hopes to share some of its games with its northern communist rival as a peace gesture.
"I'll immediately write to sound out whether North Korea is willing to play host to some of the games," Havelange said.
Havelange also said he would visit North Korea early next year to persuade Pyongyang leaders to act as a co-host with South Korea for some of the 2002 World Cup games.
Noting that the two Koreas succeeded in forming a unified team for the 1991 world youth soccer championship, Havelange said that forming another all-Korea soccer team is not an impossibility.
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