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Saudi Arabia Considering World Cup 2030 Bid With Italy

Saudi Arabia Considering World Cup 2030 Bid With Italy

Euro 2020 was spread across the whole of Europe but World Cup 2030 could go one step further is Saudi Arabia and Italy team up.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

The 2030 World Cup could be co-hosted in Saudi Arabia and Italy, with the Middle Eastern country eyeing a European co-host for its bid.

The idea to host Euro 2020 across the whole of Europe wasn't exactly a popular one, even before Covid-19 meant that travel between the countries was nigh on impossible.

Fans also aren't too impressed with Qatar hosting the World Cup in 2022, especially with the tournament having to be hosted in the winter.

On Friday, the Athletic reported an idea that might take the worst of both worlds for the 2030 World Cup, with Saudi Arabia looking for a European co-host for their tournament bid.

The report claims that the Saudis are considering Euro 2020 champions Italy as their potential partner, with FIFA now preferring more than one country as the host.

The European champions could soon be World Cup hosts. Image: PA Images
The European champions could soon be World Cup hosts. Image: PA Images

US firm Boston Consultancy Group is said to be helping the Middle Eastern country with their strategy for trying to get the World Cup.

They have looked into a potential partnership with Egypt and Morocco, to make a Middle East and North Africa (MENA) connection, which would seem to make geographic sense.

However there is questions over the two African countries ability to host the World Cup based on infrastructure and commercial issues.

That could mean a link up with Europe. That would seem problematic but the distance over 2,200 miles between the two countries might not be as big a problem as one might think.

Saudi Arabia hosted Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz II and was expected to host AJ vs Tyson Fury. Image: PA Images
Saudi Arabia hosted Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz II and was expected to host AJ vs Tyson Fury. Image: PA Images

At the Euros, there was a similar distance between London and Baku, two of the host cities with the biggest distance, and that will be even worse in five years time.

The 2026 World Cup is due to take place in Canada, the US and Mexico and the distance between Edmunton, the furthest north host city, and Mexico City, the furthest south, is just over 3,000 miles.

Italy are considering a bid for the tournament in nine years time, or the Euros in seven years, with president of the Italian football federation, Gabriele Gravina telling a press conference on Thursday he, "will evaluate an Italian candidacy for the 2028 European Championship and the World Cup of 2030, in which the centenary of the world championship is celebrated."

Juventus won the Italian Super Cup against AC Milan in January 2019 in Saudi Arabia. Image: PA Images
Juventus won the Italian Super Cup against AC Milan in January 2019 in Saudi Arabia. Image: PA Images

A joint bid by a European country with the Saudis could impact England's bid for the tournament, and cause issues for UEFA.

The FA are considering a joint bid with Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, which has already been hit by the crowd trouble at the Euro 2020 final last Sunday.

There is also a potential joint bid from Spain and Portugal and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin wants all the countries to vote as one when it comes to deciding on the host, and is leaning towards the Iberians.

Howe that would change if Italy team up with Saudi Arabia remains to be seen but the idea of countries in different confederations co-hosting the World Cup certainly seems like a strange one.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football, World Cup, Italy