(ATR) The 100th anniversary of the FIFA World Cup could return to the tournament’s origins if a joint bid from Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay is successful.
The inaugural World Cup took place in Uruguay in 1930 with the host country taking home the Jules Rimet Trophy over Argentina. The former competitors are now teammates in their bid to bring the tournament back to South America for the first time since the Brazil 2014 World Cup.
Argentina and Uruguay announced their intention to submit a joint bid in July, with Paraguay adding two venues on Oct. 4. The Presidents of the three countries announced their plans to launch a bid at the Presidential Palace in Argentina.
"We have spoken to the president of FIFA and we will have the support of 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," Argentinean President Mauricio Macri said.
"I celebrate the communion of our three countries, deeply committed to football, in agreeing a joint bid to host this World Cup," said Uruguay President Tabare Vazquez. "We are convinced and I can say on behalf of the three countries that are committed to comply with the demands that FIFA has for the realization of a World Cup."
All Presidents believe the sentimental value of the centenary edition returning to Uruguay will boost the bid against what is expected to be stiff competition from across the globe. Europe will once again be eligible to submit a bid after a hiatus from FIFA’s rotational guidelines and China has hinted it is likely to bid for the event as well.
"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,'' Paraguay President Horacio Cartes said.
The initiative from the three countries follows the precedent set by the soccer federations of Canada, Mexico and the United States that are collaborating on a bid for the 2026 World Cup. The joint effort is named the ‘United Bid Committee’.
The UBC narrowed down its list of potential host cities on Oct. 4 to 32 across the North American continent, with four in Canada, three in Mexico and the remainder in the U.S.
The UBC had sought exclusive bidding rights for the tournament and a fast-tracked process. FIFA approved an expedited process but did not oblige the exclusive request and opened the bidding to all countries in the rotational guidelines. Only Morocco emerged as a contender to the UBC by the Aug. 11 deadline set by FIFA.
The move to joint-bids has been made in part due to FIFA’s plans to expand the World Cup tournament from 32 to 48 teams beginning in 2026. With a myriad of stadiums to choose from and extensive soccer infrastructure available in both of the three-country proposals, a new standard of World Cup bids could be emerging.
In its 87-year history, only one tournament has been hosted by more than one country, with Japan and South Korea teaming up to stage the 2002 edition.
Written by Kevin Nutley
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