UK & Ireland Joint Bid to Host 2030 FIFA World Cup Soccer

[Dylan]

Last night it was announced via a joint statement, that the English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish & Northern Irish FA are looking into the feasibility of submitting a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup finals ahead of the official application process opening in 2022.

"The football associations and government partners of the UK and Ireland are delighted that the UK government has committed to support a prospective five association bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. We will continue to undertake feasibility work to assess the viability of a bid before FIFA formally open 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."

Not beyond the realms of possibility I suppose with the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams from 2026.

For those unaware the 2026 World Cup is being held across 3 countries (USA, Canada and Mexico) in 16 cities/16 stadiums. 3 each in Canada and Mexico, remaining 10 in USA.

Id expect a similar scenario with England to host the brunt of the games, with Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow and Cardiff used to host the others. Maybe with Edinburgh as second Scottish city, or the very outside chance of Cork or Limerick in Ireland as second Irish city.

Interesting bid all the same, the only stumbling block I see at present is FIFA allowing 5 teams to qualify automatically as hosts.

I personally think a joint GB bid of England, Scotland and Wales would be more realistic.

 

[David76]

You'd think they'd maybe attempt to do a centenary in Uruguay/Argentina/Paraguay/Chile in 2030.

I'm pretty indifferent to us hosting a World Cup. This will just be England and the rest tacked on.

 

[Crabtree]

Would be absolutely incredible.

I was living close to Innsbruck in 2008 when the Austria & Switzerland Euros took place, and it was one of the best month's of my life. Ireland weren't even there, but just the atmosphere not only in the city, but in all the small towns around everywhere was amazing. And Innsbruck were only even the co-hosting one group, but the fun kept going long after the few group games ended, with brilliant fan zones and just a month long carnival atmosphere.

 

[Micro Dave]

England could easily host the tournamnet on their own, they have enough stadia.
It doesnt seem logical to rope in Ireland and Wales.

The US could easily have hosted it on its own in 2026, they probably have 50 stadia that would be suitable. Canada were made a part of the bid to guarantee automatic qualification and boost the game in the country. Mexico are perennial qualifiers so it frees up another qualifying space to Concacaf.

Its all about politics and money.