Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin Confirms Readiness
Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has confirmed that Thailand and the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) are prepared to compete for the right to co-host the 2034 World Cup. This announcement was made on the Prime Minister’s X account (previously known as Twitter) after he met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in New York to discuss the potential collaboration between Southeast Asian nations and FIFA, the world’s football governing body.
Meeting with FIFA President in New York
The meeting between Mr. Srettha and Mr. Infantino took place on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78) in New York. The FIFA President extended the invitation for this discussion, during which Mr. Srettha expressed the readiness of Thailand and Asean nations to vie for the prestigious opportunity of hosting the World Cup in 2034.
FIFA’s 74th Congress to be Held in Thailand
Prime Minister Srettha mentioned on his X account that FIFA had chosen Thailand to host the 74th FIFA Congress in November 2024. The event is expected to attract more than 2,000 football organizers and players from around the world. According to Mr. Srettha, this occasion will provide a significant boost to Thailand’s economy and create enormous commercial value. He further pledged to ensure that Thailand is fully prepared to host the Congress.
Potential Impact on Football Development
Expressing his love for football, Prime Minister Srettha hoped that his meeting with the FIFA President would create new opportunities for the sport’s development in Thailand. He expressed gratitude to FIFA for supporting Thai youth in learning about football and for increasing the number of teams in the World Cup finals. Mr. Srettha also stated that this opportunity could inspire more young people to participate in football in the future.
Asean’s Joint Effort for a 2034 World Cup Bid
Back in March 2021, the previous government approved the formation of a committee to explore the possibility of Asean countries jointly hosting the 2034 World Cup. The government stated that a technical working team would develop proposals detailing how each member of the regional bloc might contribute to organizing one of the world’s largest sporting events.
At that time, the cabinet planned for Thailand to prepare the bid proposal for submission to FIFA in 2026. Other Asean countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, were tasked with various supporting roles, along with members of the Asean Football Federation. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports would act as the main coordinator of the bid, working in partnership with other relevant agencies.
