Korea to Bid for 2018 or 2022 World Cup Soccer Finals

Korea will bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup soccer finals.

The Korea Football Association said yesterday, “We officially notified (soccer`s world governing body) FIFA of our intention to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 Monday.”

Association president Cho Chung-yun said, “Either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup could come to Asia. There is a strong chance that Korea can host the World Cup since it has already hosted the event and has stadiums and other infrastructure.”

FIFA, however, might not look positively on Korea`s bid since it was submitted right before the deadline.

Twelve countries will compete for the two bids: England, Russia, the Netherlands and Belgium, Portugal and Spain, Korea, Japan, Qatar, Indonesia, Australia, the United States, Mexico and Egypt.

niceshin@donga.com