The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is currently not running. For weeks he has faced demands for his resignation because of “lockdown parties” at his official residence. Now he had to watch one of his declared prestige projects go down the drain: a joint bid by the United Kingdom and Ireland for the 2030 World Cup.
Only once, in 1966, has there been one WM held in the motherland of football. The British had last applied more than twelve years ago, back then for the WM 2018, but were knocked out in the notorious double award to Russia and Qatar. Now the planned by Johnson led conservative government a new attempt, the WMtournament to finally bring back to the island. It’s just about time”to bring football home“, announced Johnson last year and commissioned a £2.8m feasibility study.
WM 2030 – Associations from the Kingdom and Ireland closed against application
The results are now available – and the participating football associations from England, Scotland, WalesNorthern Ireland and the Irish Association now prompted to a WM– refrain from applying. The five associations announced this in a joint statement on Monday (February 7th, 2022). They announced that they would instead prepare an application for the 2028 European Championship. Because of the “better chance of success“, how Mark BellinghamCEO of the English Football Association, in the BBC said.
Indeed, the chances of a successful WM-Application assessed as rather low. On the one hand, there are already candidates from Europe for 2030, and the intended joint application by Spain and Portugal should also be part of the Uefa be favored. In addition, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Paraguay want a joint South American application for the WM-Final round 2030 – exactly 100 years after the first World Cup in Uruguay, this would certainly have had a special impact.
Swipe at FIFA – “Uncertainties and open questions”
FA-Board of Directors Bellingham but also spoke of further “uncertainties” which ultimately tipped the scales against a WMcampaign gave: “There are many open questions. For example in terms of the schedule and the future tournament cycle.“A clear dig at the world association FIFAwho continues to stick to his plan undeterred WM to be made every two years in the future. UEFA is obviously seen as the more reliable partner on the island. Especially since the forecast profits for both majorEvents bottom line would be about the same as those FA stated But for them EM just say a”clear schedule and a clear procedure when applying“, like that Bellingham.
Also play in Northern Ireland
The joint application for the EM 2028 is supported by all associations, including the Northern Ireland Association. Although there is no stadium in Northern Ireland that meets the minimum requirements of the Uefa met for a major tournament. But there is already planning permission for a new stadium that Casement Park in Belfasthome of football and hurlingclubs antrim, is to be modernized and expanded, for 35,000 spectators. “We want to play a real role. we will do everything to EM– Bring games to Northern Ireland“, said Patrick NelsonChief Executive of the Football Association of Northern Ireland in the BBC.
The fact that Northern Ireland is there as the organizer would also have an enormously high symbolic value politically, not least for the ailing British Prime Minister. The negative consequences of Johnson’s The people of Northern Ireland felt the effects of the Brexit policy, import controls and supply bottlenecks in particular, and tensions and violence increased again in the “trouble-ridden province”, which was actually pacified. Should Northern Ireland of all places at a joint EM as the only country not to get any games, this would be a devastating signal to the part of the population of Northern Ireland who are loyal to the Union and who feel that they have been let down by London anyway.
deadline for EM-Application: March 23
the FA The central government of London has already asked for support for the new EM-Plans asked on behalf of the other associations. Westminster initially reacted cautiously. The decision was accepted, according to a statement by the responsible Ministry for Sport and Culture WM for the United Kingdom and Ireland, however, the major goal remains. The British government still has time until March 23, when the application deadline for the EM away.