South Korea President Moon Jae-in proposed on Monday that Northeast Asian countries co-host the 2030 World Cup "to ease tensions in the region," according to Kang Hyun-kyung of the KOREA TIMES. During a meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Moon said, "If East Asian countries, including the two Koreas, host the World Cup, I think this will help ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula as well as the entire region. I hope this can happen with the 2030 FIFA World Cup." Moon asked for the FIFA head to "help his idea move forward." Infantino was quoted as saying that he "respected Moon's vision for peace through sports and would deliver his message to Chinese President Xi Jinping during his trip to China" (KOREA TIMES, 6/12). YONHAP reported Infantino said that there will likely be "difficulties," but noted such a vision "can be a very powerful message" (YONHAP, 6/12). The AP reported before taking office last month, Moon said that he "would try to reach out to North Korea and improve ties badly strained over the North's nuclear and missile programs." Since Moon's May 10 inauguration, however, North Korea has conducted "several missile launches in a show of its resolve to continue its weapons development program to cope with what it calls U.S. hostility" (AP, 6/12).
2026 BID: In Toronto, Kurt Larson reported Canada's co-bid with the U.S. and Mexico "stands as the lone bid a year out from when FIFA will select where the 2026 World Cup will be held." Canada Soccer Association General Secretary Peter Montopoli said, "I haven't heard (of any other bids). I don't know if it's going to make a difference. We're going to put together a world class bid with the United States and Mexico. It's not really going to make a difference to us (if there are any other bids)" (TORONTO SUN, 6/12).
