Argentina, Uruguay, And Paraguay Planning Joint Hosting Bid For 2030 World Cup

Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay are hoping to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

2030 FIFA World Cup hosting bid

The three South American countries announced their joint bid at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. Argentina and Uruguay first planned a joint bid, and then Paraguay joined.

Bidding for that tournament — which will mark the 100th anniversary of the global soccer event — is not set to officially begin for at least another four years.

Uruguay hosted the inaugural World Cup in 1930.

“Today we are here to ratify this commitment,” Argentinian president Mauricio Macri said. “We have spoken to the president of FIFA and we will have the support of [South American Football Confederation] CONMEBOL, which believes South America deserves the possibility of hosting this World Cup because of the significance of the 100 year anniversary of the first edition in Uruguay.”

Uruguay president Tabare Vazquez and Paraguay president Horacio Cartes seconded Macri’s comments.

“I think the argument of the 100-year anniversary of the first World Cup held in Uruguay makes it very attractive for the region to organize the tournament,” said Cartes.

Russia is set to host the 2018 World Cup, while Qatar will host the 2022 event. The United States, Mexico and Canada are seeking to make a joint bid for the 2026 tournament, which will be the first World Cup in which 48 countries will participate, instead of 32. FIFA president Gianni Infantino established this new rule in January. 

Qatar’s 2022 hosting bid is said to be in danger due to reports of worker exploitation in the extremely hot Middle Eastern country.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – OCTOBER 14: FIFA President Gianni Infantino poses for a photo after part II of the FIFA Council Meeting 2016 at the FIFA headquarters on October 14, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images)