’10 ASEAN countries to host World Cup is impossible’, claims FAT’s president

A few days ago, Thai Prime Minister - Mr. Prayuth Chan-ocha, speaking at the ASEAN Conference held in Bangkok, gave the idea that countries in Southeast Asia will join hands to host the World Cup 2034.

There will be 10 countries participating in this plan including Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Brunei.

This is also the proposal of the ABS-CBN Philippines newspaper. This newspaper describes the passion for football in Southeast Asia, though no team has won the right to attend the biggest football festival on the planet.

However, this idea is impossible to the President of FAT Somyot Poompunmuang, “I have heard that Indonesia is ready to join hands to organize the biggest football festival on the planet. But it is impossible for 10 ASEAN countries to host the World Cup together. There may be two or three”.

The Australian Football Federation also revealed that they had talks to Indonesia 2034 World Cup and welcomed other ASEAN countries to join.

Since World Cup 2026, FIFA will increase the number of participating teams to 46. Mexico, Canada and the United States will host the 2026 World Cup so this is the basis for Southeast Asia to have hope in hosting duties of World Cup finals.

Up to now, the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea was the first time following co-host format and held in Asia.