October 25 – The host nation for the 2030 World Cup will be chosen in 2024, giving the winner just six years to prepare, following a decision by the FIFA Council.
The bidding process will be launched two years earlier in 2022 , significant news for those considering entering the race.
The four British nations are conducting a feasibility study with Ireland about whether to bid but could face opposition from within Europe from a joint Spain-Portugal project, possibly also involving serial losers Morocco, especially as Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has made he clear he favours one sole bid from the continent.
A Balkan bid comprising Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Serbia may also come forward.
The favourites seem likely to be coalition from South America of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first ever World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay
Asian countries, most notably China, are currently ruled out because Qatar will stage the 2022 World Cup and regulations prevent the same continent from hosting either of the subsequent two tournaments.
China are far more likely to go for 2034 but FIFA president Gianni Infantino left the door open for a possible change in the rotation system. China has just been awarded the first of the expanded Club World Cup competitions to be played in 2021.
“We did not discuss that … we just discussed the timeline (for 2030),” Infantino told reporters when asked if the Council had considered changing its rules. However, he added: “As FIFA president. ……the more bidders we have for the World Cup, the happier I am.”
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