World Cup 2030 bid by UK and Ireland won't go ahead - with focus on Euro 2028 instead
The football associations of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland the Republic have announced that they will instead focus on proposals for Euro 2028. England and Scotland have recent experience of hosting the tournament, holding 12 games between them during Euro 2020.
Monday 7 February 2022 21:52, UK
The UK and Ireland have abandoned a potential joint bid to host the football World Cup in 2030.
The football associations of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland the Republic have announced that they will instead focus on proposals for Euro 2028.
It comes after a government-backed feasibility study - as bidding for the 2030 competition was in the Conservatives' 2019 election manifesto.
Why is the World Cup dream over before it began?
The five nations agreed that the World Cup bid had an increasingly slim chance of success.
"On balance, the five associations have decided to focus solely on an official bid to host UEFA Euro 2028, and have agreed not to bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup," the football associations said in a joint statement.
"Hosting a UEFA Euro offers a similar return on investment, with the European tournament carrying a far lower delivery cost and the potential of the benefits being realised sooner.
"It would be an honour and a privilege to collectively host UEFA Euro 2028 and to welcome all of Europe.
"It would also be a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the true impact of hosting a world-class football tournament by driving positive change and leaving a lasting legacy across our communities."
England previously failed with solo bids to host the 2006 and 2018 World Cups.
The next World Cup kicks off in November in Qatar - it's taking place in winter rather than the usual summer months because of the host nation's climate.
The 2026 tournament will be hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Read more: Capturing England's Euro 2020 journey
Does the Euros bid have a chance?
The deadline to bid for Euro 2028 is 23 March, with the hosts expected to be announced in September 2023.
England and Scotland have recent experience of hosting the tournament, holding 12 games between them during last summer's delayed Euro 2020.
Dublin's Aviva Stadium was due to host four games, but the matches were moved to London and St Petersburg due to the COVID pandemic.
Eight games were held at Wembley, including both semi-finals and the final - which Gareth Southgate's side lost to Italy on penalties.
The match was overshadowed by significant crowd trouble, which was later condemned by an FA report, which found only "near misses" avoided fatalities occurring at the ground.
In October, UEFA ordered England to play a match behind closed doors, which means a Nations League game later this year will be played without fans present.
European football's governing body also ordered the FA to pay an £85,000 fine, as well as play a second match behind closed doors, which is suspended for two years.
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Scotland's Hampden Park hosted four games at Euro 2020, with matches held across Europe to mark the 60th anniversary of the tournament.
There could be further changes to the championships in 2028, with UEFA considering increasing the size to 32 teams, matching the current World Cup format.
Euro 2024 is due to be held in Germany.