For a return to basics. Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Paraguay formalized their joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup on Tuesday, August 2. This competition will mark the centenary of the first edition of the World Cup, played in Uruguay, which won in front of its audience.
¡El deseo que la Copa Mundial regrese a casa!
CONMEBOL apoya el lanzamiento de la candidatureura #2030Juntos para albergar la máxima cita del fútbol en nuestro continente. 2⃣0⃣3⃣0⃣#CreeEnGrande pic.twitter.com/AcQC9thGNT
— CONMEBOL.com (@CONMEBOL) August 2, 2022
“It is not the project of a government but the dream of a continent”, launched Alejandro Dominguez, the president of Conmebol, the South American football confederation. “There will be other World Cups, but 100 years will only be celebrated once.” Outraged Uruguay (1930), Chile (1962) and Argentina (1978) have already staged the biggest footballing event on the planet.
As a nod to this past, the press conference to formalize the candidacy took place at the mythical Centenario stadium in Montevideo, lair of the 1930 final between Uruguay and Argentina (4-2). Fifa will designate the host country or countries of the 2030 World Cup in 2024. Spain and Portugal have already announced their joint candidacy for a year.
The details of the South American candidacy have not been revealed and will be presented in May 2023. Uruguayan Minister of Sports, Sebastian Bauza, nevertheless specified that the project would revolve around 14 stadiums. In total, 48 teams will participate in this World Cup, against 32 currently.
With this move to 48 selections, “it is more difficult and costly for a country to be a candidate alone”underlined Alejandro Dominguez. “A joint organization reduces the level of investment required”he said without giving any figures for the budget.