Sports authorities and football associations discuss ASEAN’s bid for the 2034 FIFA World Cup

sports officials of the ASEAN Member Statesrepresentatives of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) and other football associations in the region met virtually at the First Meeting of the Technical Working Group for the Preparation of the ASEAN Joint Bid for the FIFA World Cup 2034 (1st TWG-FWC Meeting).

The meeting was chaired by Dr. Niwat Limsuknirun, Director General of Physical Education, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand and Chairman of the ASEAN Senior Sports Officials Meeting. Led by Thailand, TWG-FWC members discussed the joint bidding process for 2026, including the general requirements, schedule and the role each member state will play in the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

ASEAN’s candidacy as a possible host of the FIFA World Cup was first raised by ASEAN foreign ministers at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Retreat and the Special Meeting of the Council of ASEAN Coordination in January 2011 in Lombok, Indonesia.

The captain of the Bangladesh national team Jamal Bhuyan will play in the Argentine soccer league

At the 34th ASEAN Summit, held on June 23, 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand, ASEAN leaders welcomed ASEAN’s shared desire to develop a joint bid to host a FIFA World Cup and supported the efforts of the national football associations of the ASEAN Member States and the AFF to realize this goal. In response to the leaders’ statement, the AFF expressed its support for the initiative to submit a joint bid to host the 2034 World Cup on June 24, 2019.

Led by Thailand, TWG-FWC members discussed the joint bid process for 2026

This meeting contributes to the implementation of the ASEAN Work Plan on Sports 2021-2025, in particular Priority Area 4: Promoting awareness of ASEAN through sports activities, sports tourism and the sports industry.