UK and Ireland back bid for 2030 World Cup
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says it is the "right time" for the United Kingdom and Ireland to launch a bid to host the 2030 soccer World Cup.
And nearly $4 million dollars are due to be set aside for the bidding process.
Speaking to British newspaper The Sun, Johnson added the country would also be willing to host extra Euro 2020 matches this year if required.
In the interview Johnson said “We are very, very keen to bring football home in 2030.”
The World Cup has only been held on British shores once before, when England triumphed on home soil in 1966.
England last failed in a bid to host the 2018 World Cup, which was eventually awarded to Russia.
England's FA joined its counterparts in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland in welcoming the government's financial pledge to kick-start a potential 2030 World Cup bid.
Adding it would continue to “assess the viability of a bid before FIFA formally open the process in 2022”.
London’s Wembley Stadium is due to host the semi-finals and final of the rescheduled Euro 2020 tournament this summer.
The Prime Minister also left the door open to the UK hosting additional matches, after he last week unveiled plans to end all restrictions on social contact in England by June 21.
European soccer's governing body UEFA, told Reuters last week that it will make a decision in early April whether to stick to the current plan of staging matches in a variety of European cities or relocate to one country.
