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Sport

Joint bid by Wales and others for 2030 World Cup set to go ahead despite reported Uefa cooling

By NationCymru
Wales' shirt. Picture by John Smith/FAW (CC BY-SA 4.0).

A joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup that includes Wales is set to go ahead despite the suggestion that Uefa is reported to favour a rival attempt by Spain and Portugal.

Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, England and Scotland are planning a bid for the competition but Uefa have previously said that they would favour only one European bid in order not to split the votes.

Th bid only originally included only nations within the UK but the governments of the UK and the Republic of Ireland have now discussed the latter joining the bid.

In a statement published today the Football Association of Ireland said: “We remain committed to the ongoing feasibility study in regard to a potential bid for the 2030 World Cup alongside our fellow associations in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.”

Ian Mallon, the former FAI director of communications who also worked as a consultant for Uefa, had previously reported that the governing body favoured a rival bid expected to be made by Spain and Portugal.

Uefa wanted the nations of Britain and Ireland to bid instead for the 2028 European Championship, Ian Mallon told the Sunday Times.

An insider also told the Mirror newspaper: "It's accepted that this isn't going to happen and the sooner that message is delivered, the better."

"I'm not sure it was ever that realistic once Spain and Portugal had declared their intent to host the tournament, and for many reasons not least geography and easy access between the two countries, this one makes more sense."

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11 comments

Quornby

I wonder where the final would be? Yep you got it.

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Welsh_Sion

I wonder who would be the only team to qualify as hosts, and whose media would be crowing about 'football coming home'. Got it in one.

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Leigh Richards

In any such bid all the host nations would qualify automatically Sion (the world cup will be expanding to 48 teams in 2030)

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In reply to Leigh Richards

Welsh_Sion

Fair enough, Leigh. Good thing I don't follow the game over-much. But I think my point regarding the Londonian-based media still applies. :)

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In reply to Leigh Richards

Arteta's_perfect_hair

I doubt very much if FIFA would allow 5 teams to qualify automatically

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Kevin Morgan

I thought UEFA were neutral. I didn't realise they have a political agenda. It Sounds a bit like UEFA are turning the UK down because of their prejudices against the UK leaving the EU. I hardly think it appropriate the UK hosts the European Championship after leaving the European Union.

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Gareth

The bid is for the world cup, and the world cup is under the jurisdiction of FIFA. Behind the scenes UEFA may have a say, and may promote the Portuguese bid, but outwardly they have no say in how FIFA operate. Both bodies have in the past been accused of corruption, and found guilty, and serving officers if both sacked and suspended from football.

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Arteta's_perfect_hair

There are plenty of countries who are members of UEFA but not the EU e.g. Switzerland,Russia,Ukraine,Norway

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Y Cymro

Why bother? UEFA said they favoured Spain & Portugal so what's the point in Wales spending money it can Ill afford to promote itself along with Scotland , Rep of Ireland, NI & England. And as somebody highlighted. Where would the "three lionshare" of the games be held? Yes, you've guessed it. In London. UEFA is a dubious organisation to say the least. Just look how Wales was treated during the last European Championship. Wales was sent 6,000 miles around Europe & Asia during the height of Covid pandemic, then had its fans banned from attending Holland but allowed Danish fans to attend,. We then had the indignity of seeing England & Scotland play numerous matches in front of thousands of home fans in their own countries. UAFA is a joke! And even if UEFA decided only separate countries can enter rather than combined bid, and God forbid England won the right to hold the World Cup in 2030 after greasing many palms citing 65yrs of hurt. Would likely bring out of deepfreeze David Baddiel & Frank Skinner to sing that crappy Three Lions bilge. Who would then argue for billions of taxpayers money spent terraforming another inch of London as done with the 2012 Olympics with an argument how it's "beneficial" to Britain.

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George

Call me simple but: Spain and Portugal preferred bid for World Cup (2 spots from 13 taken by teams who would have likely made it anyway)No concrete bidders for Euros in 2028 yet but one confirmed interest from collection of 4 nations and another expressing interest as collection of 6 - UK plus Republic of Ireland would be 5 spots so not the biggest and 5 from potential 32 easier to manage Dublin missed out on hosting at Euros 2020 so can have the final and avoid overly saturating London with games/reminding people of disorder and avoids issue of Cardiff with small airport Would be bad for Eastern Europe and Northern Europe who haven't (Russia aside) hosted for ages but makes a lot of sense otherwise.

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Owain Morgan

The World Cup is expanding to 48 teams from the 2026 tournament and Europe will be allotted 16 qualifying spots from then on. I think a 5 host bid is excessive, but UEFA were perfectly happy with the idea of 4 nations hosting the Euros so maybe the policy at the governing bodies of football has changed. Personally I would prefer a Celtic bid, but I suspect England and the British establishment would do everything in their power to stop that.

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Replying to Kevin Morgan Cancel

I thought UEFA were neutral. I didn't realise they have a political agenda. It Sounds a bit like UEFA are turning the UK down because of their prejudices against the UK leaving the EU. I hardly think it appropriate the UK hosts the European...

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