FA urged to go for 2030 World Cup

ENGLAND have the support already of one of FIFA’s powerbrokers to bid for the World Cup in 2030 which will be Europe’s next opportunity to host the tournament after Russia 2018.

Bahrain’s Sheik Salman al-Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation, will back England staging its first World Cup since 1966 provided they are Europe’s sole candidates.

And such an endorsement from the influential Salman, who lost out to Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency, is a considerable boost for the FA, whose bids for the 2006 and 2018 tournaments were doomed by the fragmented UEFA vote letting in Germany and Russia.

Manchester United fan Salman, in Zurich for a FIFA Council meeting this week, said: ‘I would be in favour of England bidding in 2030 and I’m sure there would be widespread support from other confederations because the country is so well equipped to host a World Cup. I am a great fan of English football.

‘The most crucial aspect for England is first gaining the support of their own confederation so they are the sole bidders from UEFA. There is no point England campaigning for the World Cup — like they have in the past — when the European vote is split. England must come to the table with all of Europe behind them.’

Salman’s Asia can’t compete for the 2030 and 2026 editions because Qatar are hosts in 2022.

The FA, who are first concentrating on staging the Euro 2020 semi-finals and final at Wembley, will probably not have a World Cup bid on their agenda until after that tournament.

But with co-hosting likely in 2026, there is the intriguing possibility of England hosting in 2030 together with the other home nations, provided they don’t feel their independence is threatened.