SOUTH KOREA and Japan set aside their traditional bitterness in Zurich yesterday to agree on all key points on co hosting the 2002 World Cup, including which would stage the final.

The final will be held in Tokyo but the opening ceremony and opening match, featuring World Cup holders Brazil, will be in Seoul, confirmed a FIFA source. The tournament will be known as 2002 World Cup Korea Japan.

According to sources at the three hour meeting between the two countries and a special six man FIFA committee, it was originally proposed to put Japan ahead of Korea in the title but the Koreans dug their heels in and refused to budge.

FIFA had imposed a strict gag on the two sides, planning to announce details of the agreement only when it is formally ratified by the executive committee meeting in Barcelona early next month. But within hours details were leaked.

Neither side looked particularly happy after the sometimes tense meeting with the FIFA committee headed by Sweden's Lennart Johansson.

"I am not unhappy, nor am I happy," said Ken Naganuma, president of the Japanese Football Association.

"Our aim is to work together," commented Chung Moon Jong, head of the Korea delegation.

According to one source there was a moment during the meeting when members of one of the delegations were on the verge of walking out.

"It was very tense. FIFA put forward a certain plan that one side took as a direct slight against them. Luckily a quick compromise was found, otherwise the meeting could have ended in disaster," said the source.

"The agenda was very much forced through by the FIFA committee. A lot of things they simply forced the two sides to agree on," he added.

Japanese hopes of having the number of teams in the final increased to 40 from the 32 that will take part in the 1998 World Cup in France was firmly rejected by FIFA.

Japan also pleaded for the majority of matches but it was finally agreed that both nations would have 16 games apiece.