JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA PRESENT WORLD CUP BIDS

     Japan and South Korea were the only two countries to present
World Cup bids to FIFA by Tuesday's confirmation deadline, and it
"now seems certain that an Asian country will host the 2002 World
Cup."  The Games have never been held outside of Europe and the
Americas.  Mexico, which had been in the running since December,
failed to present a bid.  Japan, "which began working on its bid
in 1986, appears to be the front runner.  A decision on 2002 will
be announced in June '96 (John Haydon, WASHINGTON TIMES, 3/5).
     OTHER SOCCER NOTES:  Tampa Bay will be home to three area
pro soccer teams.  The city will have a MLS team, a NPSL
franchise, and last week the city was awarded U.S. International
Soccer League franchise.  Some question whether three teams are
too much for the area (Bill Ward, TAMPA TRIBUNE, 3/5)....Despite
an "aggressive marketing plan, the Atlanta Ruckus is danger of
folding before it plays a game."  Ruckus Owner Sam Chase failed
to post a $100,000 letter of credit with the APSL by the March 1
deadline, "forcing the league to begin the process of revoking
his franchise."  A local sports marketing firm, Atlanta
Management Services, is "spearheading a drive to find new
investors" (Doug Cress, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 3/5).