"Friend Who Shared the Journey"... Jeong Mong-gyu, Who Went to Paris, Met with FIFA President

Seemed to Discuss Homeless World Cup and More
Shared Impressions After Receiving Chung Mong-gyu's Memoir

Chung Mong-gyu, president of the Korea Football Association, is drawing attention as he met with Gianni Infantino, president of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), in Paris, France.

Infantino, FIFA president, posted a photo taken with President Chung on his official social media (SNS) account. Based on the content of the post, it appears that the two met and had a conversation on the 6th (local time) in Paris.

In the post accompanying the photo, President Infantino said about President Chung, "I am really happy to meet my friend," adding, "I first met him right after I became FIFA president, and we have been on an incredible journey together. Thanks to President Chung, Korea remains a powerhouse in both women's and men's football."

Jung Mong-gyu, President of the Korea Football Association (left), and Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA)
[Image source=Instagram capture]

He continued, "I am pleased to see Korea hosting the Homeless World Cup in September," emphasizing, "Football has a social responsibility to provide everyone with the opportunity to enjoy beautiful games. This is something both President Chung and I take seriously."

The Homeless World Cup is a global football tournament where representatives aged 15 and older from the housing-insecure population compete. It started in 2003 and is now in its 19th edition this year. The Homeless World Cup held in Seoul this year is the first tournament to be held in Asia, featuring 64 teams from 49 countries and about 5,000 players.

He also mentioned the 'FIFA Forward Program.' President Infantino said, "I am proud that the Korea Football Association can significantly contribute to building a new football center." The FIFA Forward Program is a project that supports the development of football sports in 211 member countries worldwide using revenue generated by FIFA. Korea has received approximately 9.9 million USD (about 13.6 billion KRW) in support from 2016 to 2022.

Currently, the Football Association is constructing the Korea Football Comprehensive Center in Cheonan, which is scheduled to be completed next year.

Finally, President Infantino shared his thoughts on the memoir "The Era of Football," which appears to be a gift from President Chung. He said, "I am honored to receive the memoir along with a handwritten note," adding, "I will read this memoir to learn more about President Chung's experiences."