Here’s a breakdown of the provided text:
Main Topic: The Japan Football Association (JFA) is considering a joint bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2046 with other Asian countries, including South Korea, China, and Southeast Asian nations like Indonesia.
Key Points:
JFA’s Interest: Major Japanese media outlets are reporting that the JFA is preparing to bid for the 2046 World Cup.
“pan-Asian” approach: The JFA’s strategy is not a solo bid but a collaborative effort involving various parts of Asia.
Co-hosting Trend: The article highlights that co-hosting World Cups is becoming a trend, citing the 2026 (USA, Canada, Mexico) and 2030 (Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay) tournaments.
Asian turn: Based on the confirmed hosts up to 2034,the next available slot for Asia is likely 2046.
Priority Partners: south Korea is a priority target due to its geographical advantage and strong football infrastructure. Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia (with its recent hosting experience) and Hong Kong (with its new stadium) are also considered. Australia, which bid with Indonesia for 2034, is also a strong candidate.
South Korea’s Involvement: While Japanese media reports suggest discussions have already taken place, the Korean Football Association (KFA) denies any formal discussions have occurred.
Potential for Cooperation: Despite the lack of official talks, the article suggests that cooperation between the KFA and JFA is highly likely, given their existing strong relationship. The current EAFF chairman is from Korea, and there’s potential for collaboration on other tournaments like the Women’s World Cup and the AFC Asian Cup.
Significance for South Korea: If a joint bid with Asian countries is successful, it would mark South Korea’s return to hosting the world’s biggest football event after 44 years since the 2002 world Cup with Japan.
* Asia’s World Cup History: only South korea, Japan (co-hosts in 2002), and Qatar (2022) have hosted the men’s World Cup in Asia.
In essence, the article discusses Japan’s ambition to bring the World Cup back to Asia in 2046 through a multi-country bid, with South Korea being a key potential partner.
