Advertisement

Is football coming home? England consider bid to host World Cup 2030

World Cup hopes: could England be hosts 12 years time?
World Cup hopes: could England be hosts 12 years time?

England are to consider bidding for the 2030 World Cup, the Football Association have announced.

FA chairman Greg Clarke has confirmed a final decision about putting forward an attempt to host the tournament will be made next year.

He said in a statement: “Last month the English FA Board agreed to conduct feasibility work into the possibility of putting itself forward to be UEFA’s potential candidate to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.”

READ MORE: England tipped for 2022 World Cup if Qatar are stripped off tournament

READ MORE: The history of record breaking transfer fees

READ MORE: Revealed: the world’s most valuable sports teams

Despite the popularity of the Premier League on the global stage, England have not hosted the World Cup since 1966, the year the Three Lions secured their one and only win.

Wembley is to host seven games during Euro 2020 in a new look-format stretched over a number of counties but the FA believe the time is right for another World Cup some 64 years on from the last time.

The last time: England haven’t hosted the World Cup since they won it in 1966
The last time: England haven’t hosted the World Cup since they won it in 1966

They were handed Euro 96, however, and the tournament was seen as a huge success.

But should England go for the 2030 World Cup, they are expected to face stiff competition.

A “strong” joint bid from Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay is predicted to carry weight with that year marking the 100-year anniversary of the first World Cup in Uruguay.

Ruling out stepping in for the 2022 bid, Clarke went on to say: “Fifa has chosen Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup and they have a duty to investigate any issues around the process that are rightly thrown into question.

Ready to go: England players gear up for Euro 96, hailed as a huge success 22 years ago
Ready to go: England players gear up for Euro 96, hailed as a huge success 22 years ago

“Russia did a brilliant job hosting the 2018 World Cup and we support the rotation of World Cup hosting among the confederations. That would make the 2030 World Cup the next one a European nation might be able to host, and not before.

“Anyone suggesting otherwise is acting disrespectfully to our global game and does not speak for the English FA.”

READ MORE: The top English teenage talent who are ready to take on the world!

READ MORE: Making the game beautiful: Who are football’s true cult icons?

England felt aggrieved when their bid to host the 2018 World Cup was unsuccessful. Russia were instead announced as hosts by disgraced Sepp Blatter, the ex-president of FIFA.

Fans are backing the FA and social media reaction suggests a bid would be welcomed, regardless of the high level of cost involved.