LOS ANGELES. July 6 (Reuters/AP): Soccer's world governing body FIFA yesterday agreed to bring forward the start of the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea from its originally planned date of late June.

FIFA's World Cup organising committee said the change had been agreed because of the potentially unfavourable weather in late June and July tn the two host countries.

It said that each of the world s soccer confederations would be asked to study a proposal for May 23 as the target date for the start of the tourna-

The proposal is unlikely to find support in many European countries where many soccer seasons continue until well into May.

The World Cup is traditionally held in the Northern Hemisphere's summer following the conclusion of the European league seasons. Earlier, local organisers said that the 2002 World Cup would start June 1 and finish June 30.

The 1998 World Cup in France began on June 10; the 1994 event in the United States on June 17; and the 1990 event in Italy on June 9.

FIFA also said that the World Cup format would remain unchanged for 2002. rejecting a Japanese proposal to play the second round with a group or league schedule.

Thd field will be divided into eight, four-team groups with the top two in each group advancing to a single-elimination or knockout second round. The quarterfinals and semifinals also will remain single-elimination rounds, leaving the tournament a 64-game event.

A deal has l>een reached to give Asia a chance to play for a fifth berth in the 32-team finals. with an expected two-leg playoff against the last-placed European team.

The deal removes the threat of a strike by the Asian Football Confederation to withdraw from qualifying if its demand for an additional team in the finals was not met.

"It has been decided that Europe and Asia will play for half a place." said Jack Warner, the president of CONCACAF. "The president (of FIFA. Sepp Blatter) met with (UEFA president Lennart) Johansson. It is the best way for these things to be decided, to avoid contentious debate."

Blatter and Johansson, following the first of two meetings of the Executive Committee late Monday, both denied a decision has been reached.

FIFA general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen also denied a decision has been made, and said that the matter still had to be discussed by the full Executive Committee on Tuesday.

"There is no decision." Zen-Ruffinen said. "A lot of discussions have been held in the last several days. But it's a matter for the full Executive Committee."

The deal for Europe to give up half of its 15th place has been rumored and reported for weeks.

In December. Asia was allocated four berths in the 2002 finals, two of which were reserved for co-hosts Japan and South Korea, meaning its other 43 members would have to fight for the other two.

Asia was allocated 2/1-2 for the 1998 World Cup, eventually ending up with three when Iran beat Oceania winner Australia in a two-leg playoff. This time, Oceania will be forced to fight for its place in a playoff with South America, which is guaranteed four berths besides the

playoff.

AFC general secretary Peter Velappan had said that while the confederation wanted a fifth guaranteed place, it would settle again for a playoff for the final berth.

The boycott threat was not without precedence. In 1966, both Africa and Asia, except for North Korea, withdrew from qualifying to protest the allocation of only one berth in the 16-team finals field to the two continents.

Europe was a likely choice for the half berth because it was allocated the lion's share, 15 — including defending World Cup champion Frances, in the 32-team field.

Hie deal comes amid days of meetings leading up to the Women's World Cup final on Saturday.