Soccer fans make plans for summer trip to the Far East

There may be the small matter of a second-leg tie in Tehran this Thursday, but that hasn't stopped Irish soccer fans from starting to make plans for a summer trip to the Far East.

No sooner had the final whistle blown on Saturday than inquiries were being made about possible travel arrangements to the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea.

"We have had some calls," said a spokeswoman for Ray Treacy Travel, official travel agent of the Football Association of Ireland. "But it's far too early to gauge the interest at this stage."

The World Cup draw, which will determine where each qualifying team will play, is not until December 1st. "We will need a good six weeks after that to put a package together," she said. "So we will be looking at January before having something to sell."

Japan and Korea are notoriously expensive countries for tourists, with a pint costing around £7. This, she said, could act as a deterrent for fans. "It's very, very pricey, and it will put people off.

"People are saying you can cut down on costs by drinking from vending machines, or staying in one of those capsules with just a clock radio for comfort. "But who wants to do that? People want to be able to eat and drink in the comfort of their hotels, not on the side of the road."

Travelling fans will encounter added difficulties because the tournament is spread over 20 venues - some in remote locations - in two countries with different languages and currencies. Ticket allocations have yet to be finalised by the footballing governing body, FIFA, which is, however, already selling hospitality packages.

These range from $1,950 to $6,600 per person, to follow a team through its three group matches, to $12,650 to $23,700 per person to follow it right up to the final (nine games in total). Prices cover match-day tickets, food and drink.

Meanwhile, many fans appeared to have been put off travelling to Thursday's game by local alcohol bans and visa restrictions.

A charter flight to Tehran will take off from Dublin this morning with just 130 fans. Some 70 Irish journalists are also travelling out.