Seoul, South Korea ? Welcome to the World Cup, South Korean style.

Paper lanterns shaped like soccer balls are strung along the city’s eight-lane avenues. Thousands gather in the streets to watch games on giant TV screens strapped to skyscrapers. Laser images of soccer action light up ancient palaces.

A South Korean police officer stands guard over a soccer practice. Senegal's team worked out Thursday at Sangam World Cup Stadium in Seoul ir preparation for today's opening match against France.

The planet’s most popular sporting event, in Asia for the first time, begins today, thrilling this country of 47 million with a chance to shine on the world stage.

Streets have been cleaned, sidewalks repaired, beggars shooed away, flowers planted and traffic jams cleared up.

And, in a land where dog food can have a totally different meaning, authorities have asked restaurants to be discreet about serving canine dishes.

Indeed, Seoul wants to be the best in this show, which it is co-hosting with Japan.

“The Korean people are joining forces to make this World Cup a milestone on their road toward becoming a great and prosperous nation,” President Kim Dae-jung said.

Defending champion France plays Senegal in the opener tonight (6:30 a.m. today CST) in Seoul. There are 32 teams competing at the monthlong tournament.

The United States, hoping to improve on its last-place finish in France in 1998, opens Wednesday against title contender Portugal.

The Americans also will play a first-round game against South Korea, which has never won a game in five previous World Cups.

For all the joy of being the co-host of the World Cup, there is still fear of terrorism, especially following the Sept. 11 attacks.

Anti-aircraft missiles, portable land-to-air rockets and F-16 fighter jets will protect the skies above stadiums. Thousands of soldiers, snipers, bio-terror and bomb disposal experts, and anti-hooligan units will defend the ground.

“When it comes to fighting terrorism, one mistake can ruin everything. We are double-checking every little detail,” said police superintendent Chae Han-chul.

The capital is bubbling again with cultural events, as it did in 1988 when the Olympics highlighted the country’s development after it emerged from decades of military dictatorship.

The World Cup also has brought warmer relations with Japan, the colonial ruler here from 1910-45. The two countries are the first to be co-hosts of the tournament.

The final is June 30 in Yokohama, Japan.