The Football Association is considering putting England forward as a potential host for the 2030 World Cup, confirming on Wednesday it has approved a feasibility study into becoming Europe’s only bid.
England, the home of the globally dominant Premier League, won the only World Cup the nation has ever hosted in 1966 but lost out in the race to host the 2006 and 2018 tournaments.
“Last month the English FA board agreed to conduct feasibility work into the possibility of putting itself forward to be UEFA’s potential candidate to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup,” FA chairman Greg Clarke said in a statement.
“This work will take place during the new season and no decision will be made until 2019.”
England went out in the first round of voting for the 2018 World Cup but the FA has made little secret of its interest in trying again, particularly is it now has more faith in the selection process of world governing body FIFA.
With the World Cup growing from 32 to 48 teams in 2026, when the 80-game tournament will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States, FIFA has hinted it believes the event may be too big for one country.
This has led to speculation that any bid from the United Kingdom will actually be an English-led joint bid.
