Argentina and Uruguay to Bid Jointly for 2030 FIFA World Cup

In an effort to bring back FIFA World Cup to South America after the 2014 edition in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay announces their intention to jointly bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. It’s none other than the President of both the countries who are officially backing the proposal.

The two South American nations, who are not the best of neighbours decided to set their differences aside and work together for a shared future. Argentina President Cristina Fernandez and counterpart Jose Mujica officially formed a bilateral commission, including themselves, cabinet leaders and the game leaders of both the countries to promote the World Cup bid.

Although the joint World Cup hosted by Japan and Korea in 2002 was a huge success, FIFA is known to favour single country bid. Even for the 2018 FIFA World Cup there were two joint bidders, Spain-Portugal and Belgium-Netherland competing with England and Russia, which eventually went to Russia.

It is a clear fact that FIFA is looking to venture into places which has not been explored to its full potentials. However, Argentine Football Association President and FIFA’s Senior Vice President Julio Grondona’s closeness to Blatter and his influence within FIFA would be effective in deciding the bid to their favour, if the two countries genuinely and seriously promote their proposal.

Both the countries have hosted World Cup in previous occasions and fortunately both emerge triumph the year they hosted the World Cup, Uruguay in 1930 and Argentina in 1978.

Mujica said, it’s time that both the countries set aside their rivalries in every aspect of life be it, sports, politics or business and work together for peace and development.

“For too many decades we have lived with our backs turned to each other in Latin America, always looking toward Europe, always admiring what’s far away,” Mujica said. “Now the time has come to take notice that our future will be determined with our neighbors, that we suffer from the same difficulties, and that we escape them together or not at all.”

With host for the World Cup generally decided 7-8 years before the actual event, the bidding for the 2026 and 2030 World Cup will probably take place after the World Cup in Russia in 2018.