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Great News for Fans Thinking About Attending the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan™!

Team Specific Tickets Allow Fans to Follow Thier Team as Far as It Advances in the Competition

CHICAGO (Thursday, April 12, 2001) - FIFA has devised a new type of ticket, with genuine soccer fans around the world in mind. The new Team Specific Tickets (TSTs) gives U.S. fans the chance, at last, to buy tickets to see our team all the way through to the final, or as far as it may progress in the final competition due to be held in Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June 2002.

Fans can buy ticket series of between three tickets, one for each of the First Round Group Matches, to a series of seven match tickets, one for each of the Second Round of the Tournament - all the way to the final itself. If, during the qualifying competition ending in November 2001,the US team fails to qualify for the final competition then successful ticket applicants will get a refund of the amount paid, less a handling fee of between USD18 - USD 45 per series, depending upon the ticket category ordered. At a later stage prior to the final competition, tickets for individual matches will also be available.

In the past, tickets used to be sold for venues only and fans had to hope that their team was ultimately drawn to play there.

Details of the ticket sales are outlined in a comprehensive Ticket Application Form. The Application Form and a large FAQ section can be found at the official website for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan ™ at www.FIFAworldcup.com from where fans can apply online.

The face value of tickets in the lowest category range from USD 60 to USD 300 for the final match. For the highest category, prices are from USD 150 for the group matches to USD 750 for the final game.

FIFA's ticketing policy will offer all fans equal and fair access to tickets and quite separately, the 2002 FIFA World Cup Accommodation Bureau will offer accommodation if required. The 2002 FIFA World Cup™ Ticketing Bureau is implementing FIFA’s ticketing policy and undertaking all international ticket sales on behalf of the world governing body of soccer.

The FIFA World Cup™ Ticketing Bureau has enthusiastically reported, "Soccer is a truly international sport and the variety of applications already received confirm the universal appeal of the FIFA World Cup™ ". This is borne out in the fact that applications have been received for a total of 80 National Teams (32 of whom will qualify for the finals in Korea and Japan), and 129 nationalities have applied from 103 countries of residence.

Source:  US Soccer