In South Africa it appears that the referee started the match before there was complete order outside the ground. At least 43 people were crushed to death at Ellis Park when spectators tried to force their way into the stadium after the game began. Turning to the 2002 World Cup, Blatter said the tournament that will be hosted by Japan and South Korea would be the most expensive ever staged. This will be the cost of two World Cups. Blatter said time was running out for North Korea to stage a game at the finals.
Time is short for such a proposal.
North Korea has not officially expressed interest in helping to host the World Cup, but South Korea has repeatedly said it would be open to the idea. The two countries remain divided by a heavily fortified border and are still technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace agreement. Blatter also said he still hoped Brazil would qualify for the finals, but added that the fact they were struggling to qualify reflected the strength of competition. There is no more room for weak teams. The streets were lined with banners hailing Blatter, who arrived in Colombo yesterday to open the new headquarters of the local football federation.