FAM yesterday got the green light from their members for Malaysia to be part of the joint-Asean bid to host the 2034 World Cup.
At the national football association’s congress in Petaling Jaya yesterday, the delegates feel that Malaysia should join the Asean bid.
Last month, Asean chairman General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is the Thai Prime Minister, said Asean leaders have pledged their support for the region to launch a joint bid to host the 2034 World Cup.
At the FAM congress, it was decided that if the bid is formalised, FAM deputy president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal is to lead the lobbying work.
“This idea was mooted by AFF (Asean Football Federation) for Asean countries to jointly bid for the 2034 World Cup hosting job. The Prime Minister and the Sports Minister are also supportive of the idea,” said Subahan after the congress.
“Today, the congress supported the idea (joint World Cup bid), and I would like to thank Datuk Hamidin (Amin) and Stuart (Ramalingam) for giving me the responsibility.
“The next move is for us to engage with the Sports Ministry and National Sports Council, sit down and see how we can move forward.
“Let us form a committee and have meetings with the respective government offices to see what we can do.
“China look like they will bid in 2030. We have to work with our AFF partners and see whether it is 2030, 2034 or 2038,” said Subahan.
The AFF will have to meet with China FA and find out which World Cup edition that the Asian superpower want to host.
That is because a direct competition with China for the World Cup hosting job will diminish the Asean bid. Fifa usually do not allow countries from the same continent to host consecutive World Cups.