Scott No: 3198
Serial number:2002-11
Values in set: 2
Denomination: 2.80 yuan
Date of issue: 16th May 2002
Designer: Guo Zhenshan
Size of stamps: radius of 15mm (round and se-tenant)
Perforation: 12.5
Sheet composition: 16
Printing process: gravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

The stamp set is cataloged as 2002-11, titled 2002 FIFA World Cup. It was issued on May 16, 2002. The set consists of two stamps in a photogravure edition printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works. The designers are Guo Zhenshan and Wang Wei. The total face value is 1.6 yuan. Each stamp measures 40×30 mm, with a perforation gauge of 13 degrees. Each sheet contains 20 stamps.

The 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup was the first World Cup held in Asia. It was also the only time the Chinese men's national football team qualified for the World Cup finals, leaving a milestone memory in Chinese football history. This stamp set takes this major sporting event as its theme, commemorating this football tournament of special significance.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

A New Starting Point

The main subject is a silhouette of a football player running with all his might. The figure is highly dynamic, and the football at his feet has speed lines flying around it. The background features green blocks representing the football pitch. In October 2001, the Chinese team qualified from the final round of Asian qualifiers, historically securing a ticket to the World Cup. This stamp symbolizes Chinese football embarking on a new journey, carrying the nation's hopes for Chinese football to break out of Asia.

Unity and Struggle

The stamp depicts a moment of multiple players coordinating an attack, with intersecting silhouettes highlighting teamwork. Football emphasizes collective coordination and tenacious struggle. This stamp expresses the charm of the sport and pays tribute to the national team players' arduous efforts to qualify, embodying the never-give-up spirit of athletic competition.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamps use the photogravure process, with bright and vivid colors. The graphics are simple and modern, using silhouettes to minimize realistic portraits and highlight the sense of athletic power. The two horizontal stamps have simple compositions and dynamic images, using concise color blocks and lines to express the atmosphere of the pitch. The stamp set has a modern and minimalist style, using powerful athletic imagery to capture the historic moment of Chinese football entering the World Cup.