FIFA VP confident of Korea landing 2022 World Cup bid

FIFA Vice President Chung Mong-joon said he is confident of bringing the 2022 World Cup soccer finals to Korea.

In a news conference at Football Hall in downtown Seoul Monday, he said, “Korea received good scores in the site study and evaluation of its hosting application from FIFA. If Koreans support our bid more enthusiastically, the country can host the World Cup in 2022.”

Returning from a FIFA meeting in Switzerland, Chung added, “FIFA President Sepp Blatter has stressed again and again that Korea’s hosting of a World Cup will be a great contribution to peace on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia.”

Following FIFA’s high evaluation of Korea’s bid, a favorable atmosphere has been created over the argument that Korea’s hosting will promote peace in Northeast Asia.

Chung said Korea has the best reason to host the event among the bidders for 2022 –Japan, Qatar, Australia and the U.S.

Korea got the highest score among the bidding countries and Qatar got the lowest.

Australia is at a disadvantage because of the suspension of Oceania Football Confederation President Reynald Temarii for alleged bribery. Chung had earlier said Korea’s chances were 50/50 but the Temarii fiasco has apparently made him confident over winning the bid.

Chung also stressed Asian unity in promoting Korea’s bid. “Since the U.S. is competing against four Asian countries, it won’t be easy to host the event if votes are distributed. But if Asia cooperates, the continent can host the event.”

Since voting will continue until one country gets a majority of votes after eliminating candidates with the least votes, Chung intends to collect votes for Korea from Asian candidates who drop out of the voting assuming that the event takes place in Asia. He apparently believes Korea will stand until the final vote.

“Early next year, there will be an election to select Asia FIFA members (four including the president and vice president). You can win support from member countries when it’s hosted in Asia,” he added, stressing that Asian FIFA members should cooperate with each other.

Chung flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, thereafter to attend a meeting of the Asia Football Confederation.

He will later go to Europe to continue efforts to attract the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Zurich Dec. 2. At Lotte Hotel in Seoul Monday, the Bidding Committee for the 2022 World Cup Korea held its final reporting session on the bid, and confirmed its commitment to achieving its goal.

yjongk@donga.com