President Moon Jae-in held a meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and President Chung Mong-gyu of the Korea Football Association (KFA) at the main building of Cheong Wa Dae for 40 minutes from four o’clock this afternoon.

President Moon began by noting that FIFA President Infantino had promised when he was inaugurated that he would provide support for countries in a single region to co-host the World Cup to expand the base for world soccer. The President went on to say that if the two Koreas and other neighboring countries in Northeast Asia could jointly host the World Cup as the FIFA President had proposed, he believed it would contribute to promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. He continued to express the hope that an opportunity would arise for such a goal to be achieved at the 2030 World Cup, calling for the FIFA President to take an interest in this matter.

In addition, President Moon said that Northeast Asia was the region with the highest level of tension in the world with the Korean Peninsula still being divided and the region in general remaining not very peaceful. Speaking of his belief that Northeast Asia had to move towards a collective security system and an economic community as the European Union did, the President added he expected sports exchanges through soccer to play a role to that end.

In reply, the FIFA President said he respected President Moon for his vision. Noting that, even though there could be difficulties in reality, it was important to make efforts with convictions, the FIFA President said mentioning such a vision could send a strong message.

Noting that Northeast Asia was very important, including major nations like China and Japan, FIFA President Infantino went on to say that he was not sure yet whether President Moon had already discussed the issue with the neighboring countries, but if necessary, he would help through the means of soccer. President Infantino continued to say that he intended to see how Chinese President Xi Jinping would react as he was scheduled to meet President Xi in two days.

Commending KFA President Chung for his efforts to host the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Korea, President Moon suggested they make endeavors with the aim of the Korean team making it to the quarterfinal at the next event. 

KFA President Chung responded that it was crucial for adolescents to start fully learning the basics in order for Korean soccer to take a leap forward and that he would make efforts to that end.