The 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan carried the tournament into Asia for the first time. It was the first to be co- hosted, asking two nations – whose relationship remained burdened by Japan’s 1910–45 colonial rule of Korea – to stage one global event together. Spread across 20 stadiums in 20 cities, the tournament unfolded only 9 months after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, and therefore under dramatically heightened security. The familiar 32-team format produced an unusually global knockout stage, with quarterfinalists representing 5 confederations across Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, and North/Central America and the Caribbean.  Both host nations embraced the tournament with extraordinary enthusiasm, with South Korea’s vast red-clad street gatherings turned public viewing into one of 2002’s defining images. On the field, defending champions France and Argentina fell in the group stage, while debutant Senegal reached the quarterfinals, South Korea became the first Asian semifinalist, and Turkey finished 3rd. Germany’s Oliver Kahn became the first goalkeeper voted the tournament’s best player, despite conceding 2 of Ronaldo’s 8 goals that completed his remarkable return from injury that carried Brazil to a record 5th title.