Spain and Portugal’s federations have announced that Ukraine will join their bid to host the 2030 World Cup.
The bid was announced on Wednesday in Nyon, Switzerland at UEFA headquarters.
Portugal’s FA president Fernando Gomes said: “It’s an honor to include Ukraine in our bid. The two federations have informed UEFA of our intention, who have given us full support. Football is more than football.
“It’s a logical and natural decision. We’ve had the unconditional support of UEFA. Ukraine cannot disappear from our minds once the war is over. We have to give them hope.”
The Athletic reported that the Spanish and Portuguese federations have been in talks for months with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky over adding his country to the bid.
Ukraine was invaded by Russia in February and is still in the midst of a bloody war that has cost tens of thousands of lives, displaced millions, and seen towns across the country destroyed.
It wasn’t immediately made clear how Ukraine would co-host a tournament with two countries that are thousands of miles away, but The Guardian reported that Ukraine would host one of the groups if the bid is successful.
The Spanish federation said in a statement: “The candidacy (of Spain, Portugal and Ukraine) strengthens ties with Europe by generating hope and providing reconstruction tools to the Ukrainian people, who have expressed their pride and gratitude for participating in this project.”
The Iberian/Ukrainian bid faces competition from two other bids involving multiple countries: a bid from Egypt, Greece and Saudi Arabia, and a South American proposal from Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile.
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