As well as the thousands of fans eager for the first sight of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017 champions inside Suwon World Cup Stadium, there are set to be some special invitees watching on.

Sat in the stands will be a band of ­­100 soldiers enjoying England and Venezuela cap off the tournament, thanks to an initiative by Visa. Joining in with marking June’s Month of Soldiers and Veterans in Korea Republic, the lucky servicemen and women were especially selected for the chance to see a new champion crowned in the stadium, which has seen the likes of eventual winners Brazil grace the same pitch at 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ in the past.

Run in tandem with the Ministry of National Denfese’s ‘Thank You Soldiers’ campaign, the grateful recipients were surprised at a special event to announce their invitations. “As the official sponsor of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, we are pleased to present an unforgettable moment to the soccer-loving South Korean soldiers,” said Iain Jamieson, Visa’s country manager for Korea.