English FA reveals it is looking into hosting 2030

The prospect of England hosting the 2030 World Cup has taken a significant step forward with confirmation the FA’S board has approved a feasibility study into becoming Europe’s only bid for the tournament.

England lost with bids for the 2006 and 2018 competitions. That most recent defeat was an embarrassing and expensive affair, with England going out in the first round of voting, but the FA has made little secret of its interest in trying again.

With the World Cup growing from 32 to 48 teams in 2026, when the 80-game tournament will be held in Canada, Mexico and the US, Fifa has hinted it believes the event may be too big for one country.

This has led to speculation that any bid from the UK will actually be an English-led joint bid with one, two or all three of the other home nations.

Thefahasnotconfirmed or denied if it is considering a joint bid with any combination of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales but it has now formally admitted it is studying options.

FA chairman Greg Clarke said: “Last month the English FA board agreed to conduct feasibility work into the possibility of putting itself forward to be Uefa’s potential candidate to host the 2030 Fifa World Cup. No decision will be made until 2019.”

Clarke also played down former FA chairman Lord Triesman’s recent suggestion that England should step in if Qatar is stripped of its right to host the 2022 tournament.

“Fifa has chosen Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup and they have a duty to investigate any issues around the process that are rightly thrown into question,” said Clarke. “Russia did a brilliant job hosting the 2018 World Cup and we support the rotation among the confederations. That would make the 2030 World Cup the next one a European nation might be able to host, and not before.

“Anyone suggesting otherwise is acting disrespectfully to our global game and does not speak for the English FA.”