Tokyo is reportedly eyeing a collaborative bid with six Asian nations to host the 2046 FIFA World Cup, sources in Japan indicate. The ambitious plan would see Japan team up with regional powerhouses including China, South Korea, and four Southeast Asian nations: Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Japan Football Association President Kozo Tashima (宮本恒靖) confirmed the ongoing discussions in a recent interview, stating that a joint bid involving six Asian countries, potentially including South Korea and China, is under consideration. The move signals a significant shift towards multi-nation hosting, a trend gaining momentum in the face of expanding tournament formats and escalating costs.
This isn’t the first foray into potential Asian collaboration for a World Cup bid. Back in 2018, Chung Mong-gyu, then-President of the Korea Football Association, expressed interest in a joint bid with China, North Korea, and Japan for the 2030 or 2034 tournaments. However, Chinese football officials reportedly dismissed the idea at the time, highlighting the complexities of such multinational endeavors. This adds an interesting dimension to Japan’s current 2046 proposal, raising questions about China’s receptiveness this time around.
The concept of co-hosting a World Cup isn’t new. The 2002 tournament, jointly hosted by Japan and South Korea, broke ground for this format. The looming 2026 World Cup, expanding to 48 teams, a 16-team increase, will be co-hosted by North American nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Further solidifying the trend, the 2030 World Cup will feature an even more extensive collaborative effort, spread across six countries: Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and the South American trio of Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. FIFA is clearly embracing a model that distributes the logistical and financial burdens of staging the world’s premier sporting event.
The growing prevalence of multi-nation bids stems, in part, from the increased number of participating teams. This expansion necessitates more venues and resources, which can be challenging for a single host nation to provide. Sharing the responsibility not only eases the financial strain but also promotes greater regional engagement and infrastructure development. For nations like those in Southeast Asia, a co-hosting opportunity presents a significant boost to their sporting profile and economic prospects.
Original article, Author: Tobias. If you wish to reprint this article, please indicate the source:https://aicnbc.com/5114.html
