Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia and Chair of ASEAN for 2022, has expressed his intention to see the block host the FIFA World Cup in 2034 or 2038.

“As the Chair of ASEAN for 2022, I want to see ASEAN have a vision and plan to bid for the host of FIFA World Cup in 2034 or 2038,” Samdech Techo Hun Sen said while presiding over the welcoming event of FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour to Cambodia, at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh this morning.

“I will examine the possibility to ask other ASEAN Heads of State/Government to support and make this initiative a reality,” he added.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen said since the World Cup started in 1930, Asia could host this global sport event only twice: the first time in Japan and the Republic of Korea in 2002 and this year in Qatar.

ASEAN therefore should consider bidding for the host in 2034 or 2038 to further strengthen the values of economic, cultural, educational and sports cooperation in the ASEAN Community with harmony among the member countries by drawing on global economic power to fill ASEAN's shortfall from this influential World Cup, the Cambodian Premier underlined.

World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body.

According to H.E. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism and President of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), before arriving in Cambodia, the FIFA World Cup Trophy has already crossed 20 countries, and will depart from Cambodia on June 17 to 30 other countries.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press