BANGKOK: The biggest sporting event on earth – the FIFA World Cup – could finally be hosted in the football-mad Asean region for the first time ever.
Asean chairman General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is the Thai Prime Minister, said Asean leaders have jointly pledged their support for the region to launch a joint bid to host the 2034 Fifa World Cup.
“Asean leaders supported and shared the same sentiment for the region to develop a joint bid to become a co-host for the World Cup.
“I wish to invite all the Asean people to collectively support their respective countries’ football associations with a view to realising this dream to be achieved together,” he told the media during a press conference in conjuration with the 34th Asian Summit here today.
Yesterday, Thai's Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, after a meeting with his counterparts from the region, had raised the possibility of the Asean region launching a joint bid to host the 2034 World Cup, saying it could come true 15 years from now.
Last year, former FIFA executive committee member, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, was reported saying that the football governing bodies from Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam have expressed an interest in a joint bid for the 2034 World Cup.
He said it is time for the Asean region to be given an opportunity to become a co-host as it will allow the countries to improve their infrastructures and strengthen their respective national teams.
Al-Sultan Abdullah was also quoted saying there should be no problems if Malaysia becomes a co-host of the World Cup.
In 2017, Indonesia's football association had announced that the country is set to lead a consortium of Southeast Asian countries in an ambitious bid to host the 2034 World Cup.
The deadline to register a bid for the 2034 World Cup is in 2026.