North Korea could host 2030 World Cup as South Korean president calls for shock joint application
Fifa president Gianni Infantino told the idea could lead to more peaceful relations in troubled north-east Asia
NORTH KOREA has been surprisingly catapulted on to the World Cup stage.
The news follows a suggestion from the new South Korean president that his country co-host the 2030 tournament with their secretive neighbours.
After South Koreo successfully hosted the Fifa Under-20 World Cup - won by England - president Moon Jae-in suggested the idea to his Fifa counterpart Gianni Infantino.
Moon is said to have told Infantino the idea could lead to more peaceful relations in the region.
Ties between the two nations have lately become increasingly strained over the North's threats of missile attacks on its southern neighbour.
“If neighbouring north-east Asian countries, including South and North Korea, can host the World Cup, I think that would contribute to peace between South and North Korea and in the Northeast Asian region," he said.
"I would like president Infantino to have interests on this matter."
Communist North Korea has only qualified for the World Cup twice.
They did it first once in 1966 in England when they made the quarter-finals, and more recently in 2010 in South Africa, where they lost all three of their group stage games.
That allegedly led to and a six-hour dressing down for "betraying" the nation's struggle.
Since then North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un reportedly follows Italian football thanks to the nation's star striker Kwang-Song Han, who plays for Cagliari in Serie A.
While South Korea hosted the World Cup in 2002, along with Japan who could also bid for the 2030 tournament, North Korea have never been considered.
One obstacle surrounding the inclusive state would obviously be travel and freedom of movement issues.
Infantino, meanwhile, apparently told Mr Moon his idea will be discussed with Chinese president Xi Jinping.