Asean ponders 2034 World Cup bid

Asean ponders 2034 World Cup bid

Foreign ministers agree to put proposal to government leaders for approval at Bangkok summit

Will Thai football fans have a chance to see World Cup matches on home soil in 2034? Asean leaders could decide on a joint hosting plan at their summit on Sunday.
Will Thai football fans have a chance to see World Cup matches on home soil in 2034? Asean leaders could decide on a joint hosting plan at their summit on Sunday.

Southeast Asian foreign ministers agreed on Saturday to put forward a joint bid to host the World Cup in 2034 but they need endorsement from their leaders first.

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said he and his counterparts agreed to propose the bid to their leaders, who will meet on Sunday at the Asean Summit in Bangkok.

The idea of a pan-Asean World Cup has been mooted before. Football Association of Thailand president Somyot Poompunmuang, said in September last year that Thailand and Indonesia would try to enter a bid for the 2034 event.

Japan and South Korea successfully co-hosted the Fifa World Cup finals in 2002. Qatar will be the third Asian host when it stages the event in 2022.

The 2026 World Cup will be jointly staged by the United States, Canada and Mexico. A number of contenders are now lining up potential bids for the 2030 event. Many are expected to be joint efforts, such as one proposed by the football federations of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

Eqypt reportedly is also keen to host the football tournament in 2034.

Vietnam is the best men’s football team in Asean, standing 96th in the Fifa rankings, followed by Thailand in 116th place.

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