FIFA president Gianni Infantino caused a stir in the football world this week when he revealed that North Korea and South Korea were considering tabling a joint bid for the 2023 Women’s World Cup. North Korea and South Korea are still technically at war with each other as the conflict in the early 50s ended in an Armistice rather than a peace treaty.

However, in recent years, both nations have utilized sports to foster good relations and this has brought the hope of reconciliation between the two nations. In 2018 both nations fielded a combined women’s hockey team in what was seen as a symbolic moment across the world.

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in also revealed plans for a joint bid for the 2032 summer Olympics in last September.

It is no surprise that both countries are considering hosting the Women’s World Cup. North Korea are among the top national teams in female football winning the under 20 tournament in 2016 while South Korea have also done well in Women’s football.

“ The 2023 Women’s World Cup hosting rights is looking to be hot contests with the likes“ of Australia, Colombia, Japan and South Africa expressing interest in hosting the tournament.
A tournament in Korea would pose little geographical problems as the two nations sit on the Korean peninsula. But there would need to be a serious logistic overhaul due to the differences in “ideology in both countries“.

FIFA have made a schedule of timelines for the applications as nations must show interest for bidding by March 15, complete bidding registration before April 16 and submit bid accounts by October 4. FIFA Council vote for the Host of the 2023 Women’s World Cup is scheduled to be held in March 2020.