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Unlikely North, South Korea partnership threatens British World Cup bid

REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji Picture Supplied by Action Images

South Korean president Moon Jae-in's ambitious attempts to improve relations between his homeland and North Korea have led to a desire to stage the 2030 World Cup in both countries, adding an early adversary to a UEFA-backed British proposal.

The liberal Moon met with FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Monday following his visit to the Under-20 World Cup - which was won by England - and laid out his audacious plans. Moon wants to not only bring the showpiece back to South Korea after the World Cup was staged there in 2002, but also to latch its old nemesis, the self-extracted North Korea, and other Northeast Asian countries onto the bid.

"If the neighbouring countries in Northeast Asia, including North and South Korea, can host the World Cup together, it would help to create peace in North and South Korea as well as Northeast Asia. I would like President Infantino to have interests on this matter," said Moon, in quotes relayed to the Guardian by his spokesperson Park Su-hyun.

There's a distinct possibility that Moon's wishes could be unrequited by his nation's rival north of the border. North Korea has so far been silent on Moon's efforts to forge a neighbourly bond since his May 10 inauguration, and is still relentlessly testing ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, despite the United Nations' sanctions restricting them from conducting these programmes.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Back on the pitch, men's representatives of the two countries last met in August 2015, when only Asian-based players turned out for South Korea in a 0-0 draw. In the women's game, North Korea entertained South Korea in April in a 1-1 draw at the Kung Il-sung Stadium in Pyongyang.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was encouraging of a potential World Cup bid from England or Britain earlier in June, but South Korea teaming up with nearby countries in an attempt to host the 2030 edition supplements fears that money will dictate who holds the tournament.

Vivo recently became the third Chinese company to sponsor FIFA, prompting speculation that the rotation policy would be overlooked for Asia to stage the 2030 World Cup.

Ceferin responded by saying rules "cannot change just because we have some big sponsors."

He added: "I cannot say which country will place a bid from Europe, but we cannot just sell the World Cup to the ones who want to pay the most."

The last World Cup on British soil was held in England in 1966, when the hosts defeated West Germany in the final. England was also the setting for Euro 1996.

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