South Korea, which jointly hosted the World Cup with Japan a mere 8 years ago, brings an element of world diplomacy to its bid. In presenting to the executive committee, the country emphasized the tournament’s ability to bring people together, making a case that a South Korea World Cup in 2022 could be a vital step toward a unified Korea.
The country plans to include a North Korean host city in the group stage. Like the US, South Korea has recent experience hosting a World Cup.
A significant disadvantage for South Korea is geographical. Its time zone place it at a disadvantage for television viewers and ratings in Europe and North and South America, forcing the games to be broadcast either very late at night or very early in the morning in those areas.
