这个传奇德国保持着传统的道德伦理和严格的组织作风，我很高兴地说那些固有的优秀品质现在依然很好地保持着——国际足联也很高兴有机会充分利用这一点。

　　For at all levels, the overall investment in any World Cup tournament is immense. The event is financially supported by the German state, but also by the "Lander" and the Host Cities. I would like to take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt thanks to all those who are currently working with such passion and commitment to make the occasion a memorable one.

　　不管在哪一种水平上，每届世界杯比赛都能得到极好的投资。这项赛事不仅有德国各州的资助，同时也得到来自 “Lander（国家）”和主办城市的资助。我很高兴利用这个机会表达我衷心的感谢，感谢那些热情工作的人们，感谢那些愿意带给我们难忘回忆的人们。

　　The 2006 tournament will be a vastly different affair Thirty-two teams will have qualified, including five from Africa, all of whom now perform at a far higher level. Just remember how Senegal upset the odds in Korea and Japan in 2002. The same can be said for Asian teams, who produced a semi-finalist last year" something which would have been unthinkable back in 1974!

　　2006年世界杯就完全是另外一个样子了，有32支冻队最后进入决赛圈，其中包括5支来自非洲的球队，他们现在的水平早已有了很大提高。回忆一下2002年日韩世界杯上塞内加尔如何成为黑马，可以说这种情况同样发生在韩国队身上，去年世界杯上他们更打入半决赛。有些事情农1974年真是无法想象的！

　　These performances bear witness to FIFA's efforts in the last quarter of a century to help the nations of the football world to compete on an equal footing. I will have the immense pleasure of welcoming you amongst my friends in Germany. We look forward to seeing you in 2006 to celebrate this unity!

　　这些成绩见证了国际足联在最近四分之一个世纪中所做出的努力一一帮助足球世界中的各国球队在同一起点上进行比赛。我将非常高兴地欢迎大家来德国，来到我的朋友们中间，我们期待着能在2006年看到您，来一起欢庆这举世瞩目的盛典。

　　Joseph S. Blatter

　　约瑟夫·斯·布拉特