Ireland is set to be part of a potential joint bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup in conjunction with the English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish football associations after the move received support from the UK Government.
The 2030 tournament would mark the centenary of the first World Cup and world football’s governing body FIFA will open the formal bidding process in 2022.
A feasibility study is under way and will continue before the formal bidding process begins.
In an interview with The Sun, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We are very, very keen to bring football home in 2030. I do think it’s the right place.
“It’s the home of football, it’s the right time. It will be an absolutely wonderful thing for the country.”
The English Football Association said on Twitter that it welcomed “the Government’s pledge of £2.8million towards a potential bid” for the 2030 World Cup.
In a joint statement, the FAI along with the four other associations, said: “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.”
On Friday, new FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill had raised the prospect of a joint bid, describing it as “absolutely credible”.
“I think the decision to have a joint approach is the right decision. Because we know that the English FA has already had two attempts to host the World Cup since it last did in 1966,” he said.
“So I think it needed to change the narrative slightly, and I think, incorporating the other home nations and, in particular, incorporating the FAI into the proposed approach, I think is very sensible.
“I think that will fall well within both UEFA, and within UEFA federations and I think also within FIFA.”
The next World Cup in 2022 will be held in Qatar, while the 2026 tournament is due to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Dublin will be one of the host cities for the delayed UEFA European Championships this summer.
