We may not be at ‘our own’ Euro Finals in 2021 but talks are still ongoing about our being part of a joint bid with the English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish FA’s to host the Centenary FIFA World Cup in 2030.
There are already a number of bids confirmed and last night Spain and Portugal through their joint hat into the ring.
A successful bid is likely to involve games being staged at the Aviva Stadium but also at Croke Park. The tournament will expand to 48 teams and 80 matches in 2026 and that is the likely number again in 2030.
In September 2018 we reported that the Government had committed to a feasibility study on the project.
A combined bid from Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay is considered to be one of the favourites, while another is rumoured to be in the making between Bulgaria, Serbia Romania and Greece.
It is likely that UEFA would only back one bid and with Qatar and North America hosting in 2022 and 2026, there will be a sense that it is Europe’s turn.
It is expected that a winning bid will be selected in 2024 which means that many of the work and the discussions will take place against the continued background of Covid and its human and economic impact.
The extra challenges of hosting across multiple locations will come into sharp focus next summer but who knows, maybe last night’s penalty shoot-out defeat was not the last chance, after all, to play a major tournament on home soil.
