FIFA World Cup

Japan is considering a joint bid with China, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam to host the 2046 FIFA World Cup. The Japan Football Association confirmed discussions about the unprecedented six-nation effort, echoing the growing trend of multi-nation hosting driven by tournament expansion and escalating costs. A previous joint-bid proposal by South Korea involving China and Japan for earlier World Cups was reportedly dismissed by China. The 2026 and 2030 World Cups will exemplify co-hosting, suggesting FIFA’s embrace of shared responsibility to ease financial strain and promote regional development.

Branko Ivankovic has been dismissed as head coach of the Chinese men’s national football team after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup final qualifying round. This decision, the CFA cited the automatic termination of his contract, due to the team’s poor performance. His brief tenure, with a win rate below 30%, further highlights the program’s instability, which has seen 14 managerial changes in 23 years, reflecting the ongoing struggles of Chinese football.