May 2 – Former South Korean national team coach Guus Hiddink and FIFA vice-president President Chung Mong-Joon have pledged to cooperate on their nation’s respective bids to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup competitions.
Chung, a former President of the Korea Football Association, promised he will give full support to the Netherlands-Belgium campaign for the 2018 World Cup.
The promise will be a blow to England 2018 officials who had hoped to persuade Chung to back their bid.
Hiddink visited South Korea last week, mainly to help promote the bid from his homeland.
South Korea is hoping to host the next finals in 2022.
Hiddink managed South Korea to an unexpected third place in 2002 when they co-hosted the tournament with Japan and he remains a national hero in the country.
“Europe is likely to host the World Cup in 2018,” Chung said.
“Since Korea has an extraordinarily close relationship with Hiddink, I will discuss ways to support the Netherlands-Belgium campaign and expect help from them in return when we put out our 2022 bid.”
Hiddink, who recently left Russia to manage Turkey, meanwhile, backed South Korea’s bid which has pledged to help peace efforts in the region with neighbours North Korea.
South Korea has promised to stage some matches in North Korea if they are chosen to host the World Cup.
Hiddink said: ”Despite the current tension between the two Koreas, chances still remain for dramatic changes in the Korean Peninsula before then.
“It is even possible the two Koreas will face unification by that time.”
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