South Korea are open to the prospect of co-hosting the 2030 World Cup finals alongside China, Japan and arch-rivals North Korea.
The Korean nations are technically at war with each other over the past few decades despite splitting up back in 1948.
North Korea have illegally tested nuclear weapons against the will of the United Nations, and this has not gone well with their fellow neighbours. With the World Cup likely to involve 48 teams from 2026, countries in each continent may have to combine to plot respective bids for the showpiece event.
USA, Canada and Mexico look the most likely to host the 2026 World Cup, and this has urged South Korea to look into the event four years later, which could involve their Asian counterparts. Japan and South Korea hosted the showpiece event back in 2002 which Brazil won against Germany thanks to a brace from Ronaldo.
South Korea also achieved their best ever finish in a World Cup in the same tournament as they eventually achieved a fourth place finish after losing out to Turkey in the Bronze medal match. While the close neighbours are yet to come to peace, South Korean FA President Chung admits that the country could host the 2030 event with or without the controversial North Korea.
“If South Korea, North Korea, China and Japan have a discussion, I think we have a good possibility of co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup,” Chung said prior to his country’s Under 20 match with Senegal.”If South Korea, China, and Japan decide to stage the World Cup, it can be really appealing to others in terms of financial conditions,” he said. “We have a very attractive football market.”
While South Korea have been regulars in the World Cup finals over the years, North Korea have just two appearances to date with the last being in the 2010 World Cup where they became the first team to qualify with a FIFA ranking of above 100.