ONE of the most intense and expensive bidding wars in the history of sport will conclude this weekend when FIFA announces whether Japan or South Korea will host the 2002 World Cup finals.

The two neighbours have fought a dogged battle for the right to hold the first World Cup in Asia, spending hundreds of millions of dollars in the last six years on their campaigns.

UIFA's decision tomorrow will have a far reaching effect on the sport in Asia. Joao Havelange, the 80 year old president of UIFA, who has aggressively directed soccer's enormous commercial growth during the 22 years of his presidency, has determinedly ignored calls for the 2002 finals to be shared between the two countries.

"In sport there is always a winner and a loser," he said this week. "The FIFA rules do not allow co-hosting the World Cup. As long as I am FIFA president that will not change."