The UK could be in for a football fiesta this summer, after Boris Johnson offered to host more Euro 2020 games, following an impressive vaccine roll out.
Wembley will already host England’s three group stage matches, with both semi-finals, the final and a round of 16 game also taking place at the home of football.
The Prime Minister has expressed a desire for a “bonanza of football” as he aims to stage the 2030 World Cup, with the five representative Football Associations of the UK and Ireland launching a joint bid.
However, UEFA insisted that they still intended on hosting the tournament in the original 12 cities and countries right across Europe.
But with Coronavirus restrictions causing huge disruptions in the continent, plus the country’s successful vaccine roll out, Boris Johnson believes the UK can take on extra games if UEFA alter their plans.
Announced in Wednesday’s budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak intends to invest £2.8m in the UK and Irelands join World Cup bid for the tournament in nine years’ time.
A statement from the Football Association said: “The football associations and government partners of the UK and Ireland are delighted that the UK government has committed to support a prospective five-association bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.”
Tweeting on Tuesday morning the Prime Minister added: “Let’s bring football home in 2030. I would love for the home of football to host the 2030 World Cup, and it would be a wonderful thing for the whole country to savour.
“We want to do much more to encourage sport post-pandemic and see a bonanza of football in the years ahead.”
2030 marks 100 years since the first World Cup, held in Uruguay, and it would be the first tournament a home nation has hosted since England’s victorious campaign in 1966.
