Ukraine will join Spain and Portugal in their bid to host the 2030 soccer World Cup, the Times reported late Monday.
If the joint bid is successful, the war-torn country would host one of the eight groups in the tournament. The plan is understood to have been backed by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the governments of Spain and Portugal, the report said.
The new partnership is expected to be announced by Spanish and Portuguese soccer chiefs during a news conference at European governing body UEFA’s headquarters on Wednesday, according to the Times.
In their 2030 World Cup bid, Spain and Portugal are mainly competing against Saudi Arabia, which is expected to put forward a joint bid with Egypt and Greece. Ukraine’s involvement in the bid is likely to raise the likelihood of a European World Cup, given strong support for the war-ravaged nation.
This year’s World Cup will begin on November 20 in Qatar, while the 2026 edition will be played in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
