The battle for the 2030 FIFA World Cup hosting right is getting intense as the United Kingdom has announced a joint bid with Ireland. The 5 associations are proposing a bid to ask the 24th edition of the World ahead of countries from South America and Africa who have already made known their desire to host the prestigious competition in 29-year time.
In a joint statement released by the five football federations – Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales, on Monday, the federations confirmed their interest in hosting the 24th edition of the World Cup which bidding process will officially kick-off in 2022.
The hosts for the FIFA World Cup editions which will precede the 2030 FIFA World Cup have long been decided. FIFA has given the hosting right for the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. While the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by three countries – United States, Canada, and Mexico. The 2026 edition will be the first time in the history of the competition that the tournament will be hosted in three countries.
In 29-year time, a record could be made if the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland are given the hosting right. If that happens, it would be the first time in the history of the competition that the tournament will be hosted in five countries simultaneously.
“The football associations and Government partners of the UK and Ireland are delighted that the UK Government has committed to supporting a prospective five-association bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup”, a joint statement of the five federations read.
“We will continue to undertake feasibility work to assess the viability of a bid before FIFA formally opens the process in 2022.
“Staging a FIFA World Cup would provide an incredible opportunity to deliver tangible benefits for our nations.
“If a decision is made to bid for the event, we look forward to presenting our hosting proposals to FIFA and the wider global football community.”
We've joined the @ScottishFA, @FAWales, @OfficialIrishFA and @FAIreland in welcoming the government's pledge of £2.8million towards a potential bid for the 2030 @FIFAWorldCup:
— The FA (@FA) March 1, 2021
2030 FIFA World Cup: Other candidates that will contend with the UK and Ireland:
The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland are not the first candidates that made public their interest to contend for the hosting right of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has been pushing for the hosting right since the country lost the bid to host the 2026 edition of the tournament.
Reports have it that the African country intends to submit a joint-bid alongside its eastern neighbors, Algeria and Tunisia. If that does not work, the country is said to be considering going into partnership with its northern neighbors Spain and Portugal.
Besides the interest from Morocco, Argentine Football Association and Uruguayan Football Association are also eying the opportunity of hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup. They are planning to submit a joint bid for the tournament in 2022.
Based on the recent development in terms of the candidates that have shown interest in hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup, the joint bid of the UK and Ireland could prove to be the strongest due to the number of countries involved. But the politics behind the bidding process might change the narrative at the end of the process.
