President Kim Dae-jung will lead a host of world leaders and top soccer officials at the opening ceremony. Among them are Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, FIFA President Sepp Blatter and other soccer officials from around the world. Also on hand will be East Timor's President Xanana Gusmao and Japan's Prince Takamado and his wife Princess Hisako. They are the first Japanese royal family members to make an official visit to Korea since the birth of the nation in 19-48. Thirty-two teams, Korea, Japan and defending champions France, will compete in the month-long tournament. Four of them ... China, Slovenia, Senegal and Ecuador ... are making their first World Cup appearance. The co-hosts will stage 32 matches each with the opener in Seoul today and the final match in Yokohama, Japan on June 30th. The Korean squad, appearing in the World Cup for the fifth straight time and sixth overall, aims to score its first-ever win in the World Cup and move to the second round. Meanwhile, some 420 thousand police were deployed to guard the soccer extravaganza. Fighter jets are scouring the skies and anti-aircraft missiles have been deployed near the stadium in a precaution against any terrorist attacks.