WORLD CUP ’94 / DAILY REPORT

With one week to go before the opening game between Germany and Bolivia, rickety old Soldier Field in Chicago was spruced up and tightly secured Thursday. There were banners everywhere, as well as a tall chain-link fence. Only officials were being allowed anywhere near the playing field. One member of the yellow-jacketed security force standing guard outside, Marie Hayes, said: “The old place never looked so good as she looks now. Not even for Bears games.”

Security is expected to be even more evident for the opener. One law enforcement official estimated that there will be 50 medical and paramedic personnel in the stadium next Friday for the game. When asked how many are normally on hand for a Bear game, he said, “about two or three.”