UEFA president confident Spain, Portugal will host 2030 World Cup
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is certain Spain and Portugal will host the 2030 World Cup despite strong bidding competition from South America.
The Iberian nations agreed in 2020 to submit a proposal to stage matches in the World Cup's centenary year. However, a four-way bid from Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay is expected to be among 2030's top candidates given that the latter country hosted and won the inaugural World Cup in 1930.
"I am sure that the 2030 World Cup will be played in Spain and Portugal," Ceferin said via video link during the opening of the Football Talks international congress in Lisbon on Monday, according to Reuters' Fernando Kallas.
"This bid is a winning one, and we will do everything possible to help two countries that are passionate, live and breathe football, and that have a good infrastructure."
Eleven Spanish venues are expected to be used for the 2030 tournament if the bid is successful, while Portugal will put three stadiums forward for consideration, Kallas reports.
Spain last staged a World Cup in 1982. Portugal has never hosted the prestigious competition but provided the venues for Euro 2004.
South America has held only one World Cup - Brazil in 2014 - within its shores since the 1978 edition in Argentina.