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AFC President: Saudi Arabia Capable of Hosting FIFA World Cup at Right Time

President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa delivers a speech during the draw for the AFC Asian Cup in Doha on May 11, 2023. (AFP)
President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa delivers a speech during the draw for the AFC Asian Cup in Doha on May 11, 2023. (AFP)
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AFC President: Saudi Arabia Capable of Hosting FIFA World Cup at Right Time

President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa delivers a speech during the draw for the AFC Asian Cup in Doha on May 11, 2023. (AFP)
President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa delivers a speech during the draw for the AFC Asian Cup in Doha on May 11, 2023. (AFP)

President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa said he was confident of Saudi Arabia's ability to host the FIFA World Cup.

He stated that the bid to host the prestigious tournament in Asia has to be submitted at the "right time" in 2030 or 2034.

In remarks to journalists on the sidelines of a visit to Beirut, Al Khalifa said: "Saudi Arabia is coming strong. We are coordinating with the continental federations and FIFA to host the World Cup in 2030 or 2034 in agreement with everyone. When the bid is submitted, we want to ensure it is at least 90 percent successful."

"The Kingdom can host a similar competition, but we have to choose the right time in 2030 or 2034 according to circumstances and chances of success. We, at the Asian Federation, have 47 votes while winning the right to host World Cup requires 110 votes. We need support from other continents," he said.

"We are coordinating the right time to host the tournament either in 2030 or 2034. We are keen on ensuring success for the Saudi bid," Al Khalifa stressed.

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South Korea Expresses Regret after Its Athletes Introduced as North Korea at Opening Ceremony

Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
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South Korea Expresses Regret after Its Athletes Introduced as North Korea at Opening Ceremony

Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)

South Korea expressed regret that its delegation of athletes at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday was introduced as from rival North Korea and has demanded assurances from organizers the mistake will not happen again.

As the boat carrying South Korean athletes passed on the Seine, the announcer introduced them as the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" - the official name of North Korea - in French and English.

The announcer used the same introduction when the North Korean delegation passed.

South Korea's vice minister for sports and culture, Jang Mi-ran, who was in Paris, had requested a meeting with International Olympics Committee President Thomas Bach, the ministry said in a statement.

"We express regret that the country was introduced as North Korea at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games when the athletes of the Republic of Korea were entering," it said.

South Korea's National Olympic Committee immediately referred the incident to the Games' organizers and requested that the error will not be repeated.

South Korea's delegation includes 143 athletes competing in 21 events. North Korea, which is returning to the Games for the first time since Rio 2016, has sent 16 athletes.