News

Japan makes World Cup appeal to visiting FIFA delegates

Osaka, Wednesday 21 Jul, 2010

Japan made a presentation of their plans for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to the visiting FIFA inspection team on Tuesday morning in Osaka.

Osaka Mayor Kunio Hiramatsu used a plastic model to show off the new Osaka Eco Stadium, which will be used to stage the opening match and the final.

Kan Suzuki, Senior Vice-Minister of Education Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, told the five-man FIFA delegation that the Japanese government was fully behind the plan to host the 2022 tournament.

“I believe that all five members [of the inspection team] have a good understanding of our hosting plans,” said Motoaki Inukai, JFA President and Japan Bid Committee chief.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited the National Football Training Center in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, where children were playing football under the guidance of former Japan international and former Futsal Japan coach Ruy Ramos. The delegation also visited Osaka International Convention Center Grand Cube Osaka.

Japan is the first stop for the FIFA delegation as they visit all the associations bidding to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Holland/Belgium, Russia, England, Spain/Portugal and the United States are bidding for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, while Australia, Korea Republic, Qatar and Japan are aiming to host the 2022 event only.

The hosting nations for the 2018 and 2022 events will be determined at a FIFA EXCO Meeting on December 2.



Source: JFA