PETALING JAYA: The Asean countries’ chance to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup is seen to be obscure if China obtained the right to host the prestigious football tournament in 2030.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) secretary-general, Windsor Paul John said in accordance with the rules of the International Football Federation (FIFA), the governing body would not allow the same continent to host the World Cup for two consecutive editions.
“If China bids and gets the right to organise (World Cup) in 2030, it is impossible for Asean to organise it after that. Have to wait until 2038 as it is already in the FIFA regulations to organise the event on rotation among the continents,” he told reporters after the FAM-AFC Coaching Convention at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya, today.
Last Sunday, Asean chairman Gen Prayuth Chan o-cha said all 10 Asean member countries during the 34th Asean Summit in Bangkok had agreed to develop a joint effort to bid as the host for the 2034 World Cup.
For the record, Qatar will host the 22nd edition in 2022 while the 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico which for the first time will feature 48 teams, while China is said to be interested in hosting the championship in 2030.
The Asian continent first hosted the World Cup when Japan and South Korea jointly hosted it in 2002.
Commenting further, Windsor said the desire to organise the world’s most prestigious football tournament was a commendable effort and it was not possible for Asean to make a good bid, however, there were several mechanisms that FIFA used for the selection process to host the tournament that should be understood accurately.
He also pointed out that another thing to consider was how the division of the team slot in the World Cup for Asian countries would be distributed if Asean agreed to bid for the 2034 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) secretary-general Stuart Ramalingam said the AFC statement was not something that would disappoint fans of football because it was a known fact.
“Windsor’s statement is not to disappoint anybody, that’s the information we already know. The opportunity for Asean is there, maybe we have to look and wait for the right time, and not 2034, maybe 2038 or 2042.
“We do not expect to bid for a World Cup only, take another chance but we have to do some research as it may be that at that time (2038 or 2042) the Asean football industry had undergone much changes, what is important is that Asia needs to support Asean,” he said. – Bernama
