FIFA Vice President Chung Mong-joon says South Korea has a good chance of winning its bid to be the sole host of the 2022 World Cup.

Chung told Yonhap News on Tuesday that the nation is regarded as a strong candidate to win the hosting rights despite many people having been pessimistic about South Korea’s chances of doing so.

He said the international football governing body FIFA pursues ideals of world peace, adding that having the 2022 World Cup in South Korea would contribute to peace in Northeast Asia.

South Korea cohosted the 2002 World Cup with Japan.