Exclusive: Korea Football Association Chief Backs England 2018 WC Bid

(WFI) Korea Football Association president Cho Jung-Yeon pledges his support for England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup.

Cho Jung-Yeon held talks with England 2018 bid chair David Triesman at Wembley Stadium this week.

“England wants to bid for the 2018 World Cup and South Korea is bidding for the 2022 World Cup. Coordination between us will be the win-win strategy” Cho told Korean media after his meeting with Triesman.

A friendly match between both nations could take place before the South Africa 2010 World Cup, Cho revealed. But it will depend on the draw for the finals in Cape Town on Dec. 4. North Korea have also qualified for the World Cup, reaching the finals for the first time since 1966.

“The FA want a friendly match with the South Korean team if they draw with Japan or North Korea. If it is happening, we will have a friendly match in either March or May,” Cho said.

His comments came before the South Korea team played an international friendly against Serbia at Fulham FC’s Craven Cottage stadium on Nov. 18.

South Korea has strengthened its ties with English football authorities in recent years. Bobby Charlton, Manchester United legend and a World Cup winner with England in 1966, visited South Korea in July when the Red Devils were in the country as part of their Asian tour. He met Chung Mong-joon, a FIFA vice president, and heard of South Korea's support for England 2018.

Confidence in 2022 bid

The Korean FA chief is confident of bringing the 2022 FIFA showpiece to his country. He said a significant budget has been set aside for the country's bidding activities next year.

Han Sung-Joo, South Korea’s 2022 bid president, will lead the bidding team’s promotional work at the South Africa 2010 World Cup and Germany U-20 Women’s World Cup.

FIFA observers may believe South Korea’s attempt to secure the 2022 World Cup is too soon after the 2002 edition the country co-hosted with Japan, but Han does not agree.

“Many people believe it is too soon to bid for the World Cup after 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup,” Han told at press conference in Seoul this week.

“But there are still 13 years left until the 2022 World Cup. I do not think the timescale should be a problem.”

Han was named bid leader in August with Seo Byung-won, a former deputy ambassador in the United Nations, appointed secretary general of the bid.

Han has said the 2022 World Cup could help to unite North and South Korea, claiming that some matches could even be staged in the socialist republic run by Kim Jong-il.

“It is a good point in the bidding competition as well as peace for Korean Peninsula. It may be turning point for national development,” Han said on the day he was appointed to the role.

The Korea Football Association has already announced the names of 54 bid commissioners drawn from different areas of Korean society.

South Korea joins Qatar in applying only to stage the 2022 World Cup. The other eight bids in the race to stage the 2018 or 2022 tournaments are: Australia, England, Indonesia, Japan, The Netherlands-Belgium, Portugal-Spain, Russia, and the U.S.

The FIFA Executive Committee will select the hosts cities for the two tournaments in December 2010.

Written by Jung Kil Cho

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