S. Korea launches bid for 2018 or 2022 World Cup

SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has declared its bid to host the World Cup
finals in 2018 or 2022, joining fierce international competition to stage the
world's biggest football event, the country's football governing body said on
Tuesday.
"South Korea has notified FIFA of its intention to host the 2018 or 2022 World
Cup finals," the Korea Football Association said in a statement.
FIFA, the world's football governing body, has asked all aspiring bidders for the
two football tournaments to present their bid by Feb. 2.
South Korea co-hosted the World Cup in 2002 with Japan, which has already
expressed its own bid for the 2018 or 2022 tournaments.
Besides Japan, nearly 10 countries, including the U.S., Mexico, Australia,
England, Russia, Indonesia and Qatar, have reportedly expressed interest in
hosting the World Cup finals in 2018 or 2022. Spain and the Netherlands are said
to be seeking co-hosting of the event, together with Portugal and Belgium,
respectively.
Successful candidates for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup will be simultaneously
determined at a FIFA meeting in December 2010.
The 2010 World Cup finals will be held in South Africa and Brazil is the host of
the following 2014 World Cup.
brk@yna.co.kr
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