The pan-continental bid to host the 2030 World Cup in Portugal, Spain and Morocco has received its strong endorsement so far from the president of FIFA, the world’s football association.
In an interview with Spanish sports newspaper AS, Gianni Infantino said that while he must remain neutral, the idea of such a big event being hosted by “two continents, two cultures and two religions is something only football can achieve” and would have a “special charm”.
Infantino also said he sees “nothing wrong” with the football confederations of Europe and Africa hosting a World Cup together.
“It has never been done, but I don’t see any kind of inconvenience. I have witnessed in Marrakesh that the idea is exciting, and it looks good to me,” said Infantino, who was in Morocco for an international congress hosted by FIFA to discuss the development of football.
But it is still early days and the host of the 2030 World Cup won’t be decided before 2024, Infantinho pointed out.
Back in November, António Costa told reporters that “at a moment when it is fundamental to develop relations between Europe and Africa, it is obviously a good idea to have an event with the kind of symbolic importance that the World Cup has”.
Spain has hosted the competition in 1982 while Portugal and Morocco have never hosted a World Cup.
