By Samindra Kunti
September 3 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has backed a British bid for the 2030 World Cup, and insists that Europe should stick to just one bid to maintain unity on the continent.
The race for FIFA’s flagship tournament in 2030 is slowly beginning to warm up, with England potentially throwing its hat into the ring. In August the FA disclosed that it was conducting a feasibility study of hosting the tournament, the Scots and the Welsh have confirmed they are also working on the plan though any formal bid is at an early stage.
“I’ve said many times that, after all these years, it is time for that part of Europe to get the World Cup… the only thing I will insist is that we will have only one European bid,” said UEFA president Ceferin on the sidelines of the Champions League draw in Monte Carlo. “I don’t want Europe to be divided because of the World Cup bid and it would be divided because the voting is public, as you saw.”
“It [a UK bid] would be a wise idea – the infrastructure in the UK is very good.”
The feasibility study may well over more clues about a joint-bid, thought the FA have not officially confirmed a joint approach. As of 2026, the World Cup will expand to 48 teams with the United States and subsidiaries Mexico and Canada the first nations to tackle staging the mammoth tournament.
South America is also challenging for the 2030 hosting rights with Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay in a tri-nation bid to commemorate the centenary of the World Cup’s inaugural edition in 1930. Morocco, who earlier this year failed to land the World Cup on a fifth attempt, also indicated they are pondering a renewed attempt for 2030, potentially teaming up with their closest European neighbours Spain and Portugal.
Speculation is also rife that China is considering a bid, given its growing influence in Zurich through sponsorship deals, though they may wait of 2034.
FIFA’s rotation system prevented Europe from bidding for the 2022 and 2026 World Cups. Germany were the last European World Cup hosts in 2006 when Italy prevailed in the final against France in tournament that was widely perceived as a landmark success with bumper audiences, increased fan engagement and an outstanding organisation.
England were hosts once before in 1966, winning the tournament on home soil. It is England’s only triumph on the major tournament stage to date and the FA will be concerned about approaching the 2030 bid after England’s last two attempts to stage the World Cup ending in failure with Germany winning 2006 hosting rights and Russia winning 2018.
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