South Korea "will face roadblocks" in its bid to bring the World Cup to Northeast Asia, according to YONHAP. In his meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Monday, South Korea President Moon Jae-in "suggested forming a regional bloc with communist North Korea and other Northeast Asian countries" to jointly host the World Cup in '30. Infantino also met with Korea FA President Chung Mong-gyu, who "first broached the joint bid idea with China, Japan and North Korea in March." When asked about Chung's plan, Infantino said, "We did talk about it, but we still have lots of time for that." FIFA's move to "relax its continental rotation policy may give Northeast Asia a boost." While that "may open the door for a joint Asian bid," China is hoping to stage the competition "on its own." Japan, on the other hand, "has been lukewarm to the joint bid proposal." North Korea "also presents a dicey situation with its series of provocations" and the int'l sanctions that have followed. Even if the Asian countries "join forces for a bid," they may not be the "favorites to win the right to host the event." The '30 tournament will mark the centenary of the inaugural World Cup in Uruguay, and the South American nation has a joint bid with Argentina for the occasion (YONHAP, 6/13).
