Beckenbauer Ready for World Cup Tour

Franz Beckenbauer, the head of the organizing committee for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, sets off on Sunday on the first leg of a globe-trotting tour which will eventually see him visit all 32 of the countries qualified. Beckenbauer starts his odyssey by jetting to Iran before going on to Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Japan. "I think it will be a nice gesture to personally invite people to Germany," he said. "I can present the stadiums to them, tell them a little about the organization and listen to their specific requests." Beckenbauer arrives in the Iranian capital Tehran on Sunday, before going on to Saudia Arabia for a visit on Monday, then to Seoul on Wednesday and Japan on Thursday. Ten nations have already booked their ticket for the finals -- Germany, Argentina, Japan, Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, United States, Brazil and Mexico.