SEOUL, May 22 (News Agencies) – U.S. players will be protected by an armed-to-the-teeth special police squad during the football World Cup, officials said here Tuesday, May 21.

At a cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Lee Han-Dong, the government also decided to crack down on any protests, including ones near stadiums, or wildcat strikes during the month-long tournament.

"We have extra security precautions for the U.S. squad as they are from a country that is considered likely to be a target for terrorist attacks," a senior police official said.

In addition to the security measures given to all teams taking part in the World Cup, the U.S. team will be protected 24 hours by an elite SWAT (special weapons and tactics) team, said Superintendent Park Lo-Hyun.

Roads will be secured and guarded in advance whenever the U.S. team moves to and from their hotels and stadiums and their movements will be closely monitored with the help of satellites, he said.

He stressed, however, that the recent warnings of further terrorist attacks in the United States had not led to strengthened World Cup security measures, which he said had been planned earlier.

"We have been taking all possible precautionary measures with an assumption that terrorist attacks might be imminent," Park said.

A total of 13,000 policemen will be on duty to ensure security during the games, he added.

Authorities have tightened security around Seoul's Gimhae and Gimpo airports before teams begin arriving for the world's largest sporting event, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan from May 31 to June 30.

Spain, due to arrive Tuesday at Gimhae, will be the first of the 15 teams to enter South Korea. The U.S. team will come Friday, May 24, followed by world champions France on Saturday and Portugal next Thursday.

Police set up check points on roads to airports and strengthened body and luggage checks this week as the opening of the tournament drew closer, airport authorities said.

The Incheon airport outside Seoul has installed extra X-ray machines and metal detectors in its customs area and will deploy 128 security experts to work with customs officers, Yonhap news agency said.

The U.S. and other teams will be accompanied by armed guards in plain clothes and receive a police escort to and from their destinations.

A special 100-member police unit will be on stand-by throughout the competition and will be mobilized in the event of a terrorist attack or any other threat the escort teams are unable to handle.

The special unit will be deployed using a 27-seat armed helicopter.