BUENOS AIRES, Argentina: The governments of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay formally launched a joint bid to host the 2030 Football World Cup on Wednesday.
Argentina, which has hosted the World Cup once in 1978, will likely host the majority of the tournament’s stadiums if the bid proves successful.
Presidents Mauricio Macri of Argentina, Tabare Vazquez of Uruguay and Horacio Cartes of Paraguay met at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires, along with FIFA president Gianni Infantino and the president of the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol), Alejandro Dominguez, Xinhua reported.
“The region deserves to organise a World Cup. It is a passion we share as Uruguayans, Paraguayans and Argentinians,” Macri, alongside his counterparts, was quoted as having said at a press conference.
Concerning Uruguay’s reported reluctance to include Paraguay in the bid, Macri said it took him only “40 seconds” to convince Vazquez to accept Paraguay.
Macri said Vazquez had understood the positive role Paraguay could play, from the very start, Macri asserted.
Macri added that the three countries participating together gave “more power” to the bid. He estimated that Argentina could have between six and eight stadiums for the World Cup, while Paraguay and Uruguay could have two or three each.
The three also played up the appeal of the World Cup returning to Uruguay where the first tournament was held in 1930.
2030 will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the World Cup. Uruguay hosted the first edition of the tournament and won the title after beating Argentina 4-2 in the final.
“We know there are other countries that want it but I think the 100-year anniversary of the first World Cup in Uruguay makes the region a very attractive prospect,” Reuters quotes Paraguay’s President Horacio Cartes as having said.
Russia will host the World Cup in 2018 and Qatar four years later. The host nation for the 2026 competition has yet to be decided.
Picture courtesy: worldsoccertalk.com
