Japan
Events

The World Cup became the latest casualty of Japan's economic slump when organisers said they were slicing $22 million off the budget for the 2002 event.
Business

The World Cup became the latest casualty of Japan's economic slump on Wednesday when organisers said they were slicing $22 million off the budget for the 2002 event.
Business

Asian Internet firm chinadotcom is to cut more than 400 staff by June and sell non-core operations.
Media

Japanese TV broadcaster NHK is to televise all 81 Mariners home games from Sanfeco Field.
Business

Japan?s professional soccer league, the J-league, has announced that it will commence its 2006 season in the autumn, rather than the spring as at present.
Stadia

IOC inspectors have begun a visit to Istanbul to evaluate the Turkish city's bid to stage the 2008 Games.
Events

Australia's Victorian Major Events is reported to have offered a $1.2 million (US$600,000) "sweetener" to ensure that if Australia's soccer team makes it to the final phase of the World Cup qualifying campaign, the decisive match will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Sponsorship & Marketing

Juventus has launched an Asian marketing and merchandising drive, which the Italian soccer club hopes will earn up to $40 million over three years.
Events

British experts on soccer hooliganism warned Japan on Friday to keep a tight rein on hard-core troublemakers at next year's World Cup while avoiding a heavy-handed approach that would spoil the fun for real fans.
Sponsorship & Marketing

Old Trafford will host England's World Cup qualifier with Greece on October 6, the Football Association announced on Friday.
Events

FIFA's choice of Africa to host the 2010 World Cup was right and overdue, a leading Moroccan Football Federation official said on Friday.
Business

Japan ended its dispute with South Korea on Thursday over which name should come first in official documents for the 2002 World Cup by deciding to leave out both of the host countries' names.

Franz Beckenbauer officially opened the offices of the organising committee of the 2006 soccer World Cup on Thursday.
Stadia

Officials in Japan have announced the completion of the Oita Big Eye stadium, which will be used for 2002 soccer World Cup.
Events

South Korean soccer fans have applied for more than one million tickets for the 2002 World Cup finals, four times the number of seats offered in the first round of sales, organisers said on Thursday.
Sponsorship & Marketing

London based licensing consultants Giraffe Entertainment have signed a deal with Italian soccer giants Juventus to license the club?s products in the Far East. The deal will be announced in Tokyo on Monday at a press conference, which will also be attended by Juve?s owner, and Fiat magnate Umberto Agnelli, and club vice president and former star Roberto Bettega.
Business

Toronto claimed a perfect 10 from a visiting team of inspectors from the International Olympic Committee, but said the city's rivals to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games might match that score.
Events

South Korea plans this week to discuss cultural and sports exchanges with North Korea - including sharing of some 2002 World Cup soccer matches.