Except for the Olympics no other sport commands as much international interest and fervent nationalism as the World Cup Soccer event. For all its present status and popularity the World Cup had a laboured beginning when the World Cup soccer tournament was first held in 1930 for the Jules Rimet Trophy. The last com-petition to be held under the official title of the Jules Rimet Trophy was in 1970 when Brazil became the permanent holder of the trophy after winning it for the third time in a match against Italy. The Mexican F.A. as hosts for the finals of the 1970 world soccer competition presented FIFA with a new trophy, the World Cup.

Singapore took part in the 1982 World Cup series but was unsuccessful in the preliminary round of Group IVB of the Asia and Oceania zone comprising North Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore.

In the final Asia and Oceania round between Kuwait, China, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia, Kuwait emerged the overall winner. The play-off for "second" place in the Asia and Oceania grouping between New Zealand and China was held in Singapore on 10 January 1982. New Zealand beat China 2-1 to join Kuwait for the 1982 World Cup competition in Spain.

A set of three stamps in the values 10¢, 75¢ and $1/- will be issued on 9 July 1982 to mark the 1982 World Cup Soccer. The stamps will carry a common design featuring the official logo of the 1982 World Cup series.