It was announced Wednesday that Ukraine joined Portugal and Spain in their bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
News of Ukraine’s involvement in the bid was confirmed by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) at the Swiss headquarters of UEFA.
The Spain, Portugal and Ukraine bid for the 2030 World Cup is backed by UEFA, European football’s governing body.
“Our bid is not an Iberian bid anymore, it’s a European bid,” Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish association, said at a news conference at the Swiss headquarters of UEFAOn Wednesday
“I’m convinced that now our bid is much better than before. Football is universal and if it is capable of changing the life of people in so many ways it should also be used for doing good.”
It will compete with other bids like a collaboration between Egypt and Greece as well as an South American proposal jointly from Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
The involvement of Ukraine in the UEFA-backed bid is a powerful statement, with the eastern European country currently defending its land amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.
There is a hope that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will be over by the time the 2030 World Cup is due to take place.
UEFA previously expressed their determination to see a World Cup held in Europe, notably in Spain and Portugal.
Last month, president Aleksandr Ceferin said he was confident the Iberian bid for the 2030 World Cup will be successful, saying: “I see it as a winning bid.
