According to media reports, Ukraine could become co-host of the 2030 World Cup. The country is to become part of the bid of Spain and Portugal.
Like the newspapers Times and Guardians as well as the transmitter sky reports in Great Britain, according to the plans, a group’s games could be played entirely in Ukraine. An official confirmation is still pending.
There has also been no reaction from UEFA, from which all three associations come. Ukraine is currently defending itself against a war of aggression by Russia that violates international law.
Award 2024
The 2030 World Cup is to be awarded at the 2024 FIFA Congress. A majority in a vote among the FIFA members (currently 211 national associations) is then required there in order to be awarded the contract to host the World Cup.
Competition from South America and Saudi Arabia
There are currently the following applications that are under discussion or have already been confirmed:
- Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Paraguay: The World Cup was played in Uruguay for the first time in 1930, and 100 years later South America wants to host the World Cup again.
- Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Greece: Following the example of Qatar, Saudi Arabia is making major investments in world sport, so far primarily in golf, Formula 1, boxing and club soccer at Newcastle United. Together with the other two countries, it would be a tournament on three continents. There are also close political ties between the three countries.
- Spain, Portugal and Ukraine: The old format without Ukraine already had the support of UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin: “This bid is successful and we will do everything we can to help two countries that live and breathe football passionately and have good infrastructure.”
There is uncertainty about a planned joint application by Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and Serbia. A joint application by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland was withdrawn in favor of an application for the EM 2028.
Soccer World Cup from 2026 with 48 teams
The 2030 World Cup is to be the second tournament in an enlarged format with 48 teams. The first tournament with 48 teams will be held in 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
So far, 16 groups of three are planned as a mode, which should be followed by a sixteenth final and further knockout rounds. The upcoming World Cup 2022 in Qatar will still be played with 32 teams and groups of four.
Ukraine co-hosts Euro 2012
Ukraine has partially hosted a major tournament before. At the EM 2012, the country was one of two organizers alongside Poland. The games were then held in Lviv, Kyiv, Kharkiv and Donetsk.
The stadium in Donetsk is located in one of the territories annexed by Russia this week. Almost no country internationally recognizes the annexation of the four territories. In August, Ukraine’s Premjer-Liha resumed play after the start of the Russian attack.