[Yonhap News Photo]
South Korean football team coach Uli Stielike appealed for home support Tuesday saying Chinese fans are expected to sweep tickets for a World Cup qualifier in Seoul in September.
South Korea, paired with Iran, Uzbekistan, China, Qatar and Syria in Group A, will open the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 World Cup on September 1 against China at home.
Stielike expressed concern that the stadium for the match between South Korea and China could be packed with Chinese fans as they are trying to purchase more than 30,000 tickets.
"We might play at a home stadium packed with Chinese fans," he said, urging home fans to pay more attention to the match. The venue has not yet been determined.
China's football governing body wants up to 50,000 tickets, Yonhap News said, adding that travel agencies are also pushing the Korea football Association to open ticket sales quickly so that they can organize tour packages for Chinese fans. The World Cup Stadium in Seoul is capable of accommodating some 66,000 fans.
South Korea have collected 17 wins, 12 draws and one loss against China, but Stielike warned China would show a "different play" in September due to their elaborate preparations.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
