French Football Federation (FFF) President Noel Le Graet and head of the South Korean Football Association, Mong Gyuchung handed over their bid documents to FIFA President Sepp Blatter and secretary general Jérôme Valcke.

Both countries also submitted bids for the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup in 2018, which would act as a test event for the main tournament. 

"We know you are very good organisers," Blatter told both delegations.

"We witnessed this at the various FIFA competitions you have organised in the past, so it would not be a first for you.

"It's a matter of trust with candidatures for organising tournaments.

"We wish you well.

"Good luck."

Both nations have hosted the FIFA World Cup in the past 20 years, with South Korea co-hosting the event with Japan in 2002, following France in 1998.

French Football Federation President Noel Le Graet, pictured next to Sepp Blatter, claims female football would be massively boosted by hosting the 2019 Women's World Cup ©FFF



Neither have ever hosted the senior Women's World Cup and Le Graet claimed that if awarded the tournaments, the interest in France would be massive and further boost the growth of women's football in the country.

"Women's football has grown up a lot in France over the past decade at every single level and we have increased the number of players a lot in the past five years," he said. 

"There is no doubt being granted these two competitions would give a huge boost to the development of women's football in France.

"A lot of cities are interested in hosting the tournament."

Since 2002, South Korea has gone on to stage the 2007 Under-17 World Cup and are due to host the Under-20 World Cup in 2017.

Gyuchung made similar claims to his French counterpart about how the awarding of the two biggest tournaments in women's football would boost the sport in South Korea.

"We are very proud to bid for these two competitions," said Gyuchung.

"We have the full support from our head of Government [South Korean President, Park Geunhye] and having this competition would certainly help greatly the development of women's football in our country."


South Korea co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup with Japan and is looking to stage the women's equivalent on it own in 2019 ©KFA



New Zealand and England had been on the original shortlist of four candidates to host both events but both dropped out in June with New Zealand citing financial reasons.

The English Football Association's decision, meanwhile, to withdraw was widely believed to be influenced by the feeling that France is overwhelming favourites to land both competitions.

South Africa had also withdrawn earlier in the process. 

A decision on who will host the events is expected to be announced at a meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee in March next year.

Canada hosted this year's FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup and are due to stage next year's FIFA Women's World Cup also.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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