Security is expected to be tight for World Cup soccer matches, and visitors should follow advice given by organizers in both host countries. Bring passports to all matches and minimize personal items to avoid delays entering stadiums. Items prohibited in Japan’s stadiums include bottles (either glass or plastic), whistles, laser pointers, umbrellas and parasols, helmets or hard hats, banners or flags, large containers including suitcases and ice chests. Both countries have made extensive preparations to deal with hooligans, and avoiding any large rallies where such trouble could break out is advised. If arrested, bail is almost never available for short-term visitors and the average stay in custody before a court decision is three months. In South Korea, a strike by the country’s second largest labor group could linger past the opening of the festivities and affect transportation services, although both the union representatives and the government have vowed to resolve the conflict before the matches begin.
