UEFA chief would throw support behind joint UK bid to stage the World Cup

Aleksander Ceferin believes “it’s time” football came home and the UEFA president would welcome a joint United Kingdom bid for the 2030 World Cup.

Only once has the tournament been held in Britain, with hosts England lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy in 1966.

Bids to host the 2006 and 2018 editions failed, with competition from other UEFA nations weakening their chances.

Football Association president Prince William, Britain’s then Prime Minister David Cameron and former England captain David Beckham were prime movers in a bid for the 2018 World Cup (Anthony Devlin/Pool/PA)

But it was confirmed this month that the English Football Association’s board had approved a feasibility study into becoming Europe’s only bid for the tournament.

FIFA has hinted the new 48-team format would be too big for one country and there has been talk of an English-led joint bid with other home nations.

The FA has not confirmed or denied whether it is considering a joint bid with any combination of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, but Ceferin would back such a proposal.

Asked about a joint bid for 2030, the UEFA president said in Monaco: “I think it would be a wise idea.

“The infrastructure in the UK is very good and in a way if more countries bid there is more chance to win.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin believes a UK bid would have strong merit (Nick Potts/PA)

“I think after all these years it’s time for that part of Europe to get the World Cup.

“I don’t doubt about the quality of the bid. The only thing I will insist is that we have only one European bid.

“I don’t want Europe to be divided because of the World Cup bid, and if there was more than one it would be divided as the voting is public.

“I don’t want people to choose between one and another European bidder.”

That moment when the captain of the winning team lifts the World Cup trophy above his head 🤩

That moment first occurred in 1958, but Bellini 🇧🇷 was merely trying to give photographers a better view 🤷‍♂️

Today, however, the iconic pose is a tradition of victory 🏆 #TBT pic.twitter.com/wo1EFleyV2

— FIFA Museum (@FIFAMuseum) August 30, 2018

The 2022 edition is being held in Qatar, with the United States, Mexico and Canada hosting the World Cup four years later.

The race for 2030 looks set to be between a European candidate, a Moroccan-led African bid and the South American trio of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

England is hosting the Euro 2020 semi-finals and final at Wembley, along with a number of other matches in the pan-European tournament.