On his travels, the charismatic leader of the tournament’s local organizing committee will roll out the welcome mat for the more than one million international fans expected to attend at least one of the 64 World Cup matches being held next June in 12 cities, including Munich, Hamburg and Berlin.

All told, Beckenbauer’s 50-day journey, the first of its kind by an organizing committee chief, will cover a distance equivalent to three circumferences of the earth, the organizing committee said.

It will begin in Teheran, Iran, before continuing to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Seoul, South Korea and Tokyo, Japan.

The whirlwind five-day trip ends with the party’s return to Frankfurt on October 7, with a further leg taking Beckenbauer to the United States early next year.

"I’m delighted we’re on the point of setting off," said Beckenbauer. "I’m thoroughly looking forward to visiting the first four World Cup contenders on their home soil, so I can warmly welcome their teams and especially their fans to the 2006 World Cup in Germany."

The centerpiece of each visit is a two-hour information get-together, themed to local customs and culture, attended by around 250 invited guests from the worlds of politics, sports, business and culture.

Shortly after landing in Tehran on October 2, the delegation hosts the "Welcome Iran" event, with Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki heading the VIP guest list.

The party travels on to Riyadh in the evening for the following day’s "Welcome Saudi Arabia" get-together. A number of royals including Prince Sultan bin Fahad bin Abdul Aziz, President of the Saudi Football Association, are expected to attend.

The following stages of the tour, at the Ritz Carlton in Seoul and the German embassy in Tokyo, also feature high-profile guests, including Japanese Crown Princess Takamado.

The high-ranking member of the imperial family was a guest of honor at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Germany last June, lending her support to the Japanese national team. 1990 FIFA World Cup winner Guido Buchwald, currently a leading coach in Japan, will receive a special accolade at the Tokyo event.