Local Firm Promotes World Cup Tiebreaker For Orange Bowl

A tie in points and goals has drawn teams representing two Central American countries to a playoff in Miami — a site chosen as neutral ground.

Whether Guatemala or Costa Rica makes it to the Soccer World Cup 2002 in Japan and Korea is to be decided at the Orange Bowl Stadium in a 8 p.m. game on Jan. 6.

The game will be marketed globally, said Antonio Paz, representative for Soccer Vacation by PromoSports International in Pinecrest. The firm puts together travel packages for fans who want to visit Miami-Dade County to see the game.

"Both countries agreed to have the match in Miami," Mr. Paz said. "It is close to them and easy to access."

Mr. Paz, who is a consultant for Inter-Forever on Brickell Key — the company that holds the rights for promotion and ticket sales to the game — said 25,000 fans are expected to attend the match.

He said there is still time for local sponsors interested in hanging banners or setting up booths to advertise.

"We don’t display signs inside the stadium but there are spaces around it and in the area where people go in and out," he said.

The winner will go on with the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football — or CONCACAF — playoffs in a bid to make it to the World Cup.

The victor will join teams from Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago and the US in a final round that starts in February.

The three top teams will go to the games in Japan and Korea where they are to compete against each other and other finalists from five confederations — South America, Asia, Africa, Oceania and Europe.

The tie resulted when Guatemala defeated Costa Rica 2-1 in Guatemala on Nov. 15, giving both teams the same number of points and goals scored.

The Soccer World Cup, which is sponsored by the Federation International Football Association, is played every four years. France played host and won the 1998 World Cup. In 2002, Japan and Korea are playing co-hosts for the event.

Tickets for the Orange Bowl match are $20-$35; $10 for general admission for children under 12.Details: (305) 643-7100.