Jung Mong-kyu, president of the Korea Football Association, was officially elected as president of the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF).
Jung was unanimously elected as EAFF president at the 6th EAFF Extraordinary General Assembly held at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Suwon on the morning of the 15th. His term is approximately eight months, until March 2026, when the EAFF's regular general assembly will take place.
EAFF hosts the EAFF E-1 Football Championship, which includes men's and women's national teams from Korea, China, and Japan, and this year's tournament is being held in Korea from the 7th to the 16th.
The EAFF presidency is typically held by the president of the local football association that hosts the EAFF E-1 Football Championship for a four-year term. However, in 2022, the host country, China, suddenly withdrew from hosting the tournament due to COVID-19, and the vice president of the Chinese Football Association, Du Zhaocai, who held the EAFF presidency until 2026, also stepped down due to circumstances in China. As a result, Kozo Tashima, the former president of the Japan Football Association, led the EAFF until March.
The EAFF Secretariat noted, "This year’s tournament is being held in Korea, and President Jung Mong-kyu of the Korea Football Association was expected to lead the EAFF for one year following the president election held at the regular general assembly at the end of March. However, due to the postponement of the Korea Football Association's presidential election procedures, the EAFF president election was conducted at this extraordinary general assembly."
The EAFF Secretariat stated, "With the next EAFF E-1 Football Championship scheduled to be held in China in 2028, the president of the Chinese Football Association is expected to take office as EAFF president at next year's regular general assembly."
President Jung Mong-kyu said at the assembly, "Although it will be a short period, I will do my best to achieve our common goal of unity and exchange in East Asian football. I will also do my utmost to ensure the successful conclusion of the EAFF E-1 Championship, which is being held in Korea until tomorrow."
Meanwhile, this is the third time that Jung Mong-kyu has taken the helm of the EAFF. He previously served as EAFF president from February 2013 to March 2014 and from March 2018 to April 2022.
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