Simplify the following text for a Grade 8 native English-speaking person.
Original: The 2002 FIFA World Cup was a football sporting event that was held in Korea Republic and Japan from May 31 to June 30 , 2002 .
Simplified: The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup , held in Republic of Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June .