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Uruguay–Argentina–Chile–Paraguay 2030 FIFA World Cup bid

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The Uruguay–Argentina–Chile–Paraguay 2030 FIFA World Cup bid,[1][2] also known as the South American Bid or simply the South Bid, was an unsuccessful joint bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup by Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile. The tournament's name would be Centenary World Cup.[3][4]

2030 FIFA World Cup
Bid by Uruguay–Argentina–Chile–Paraguay 2030
Candidatura de Uruguay–Argentina–Chile–Paraguay 2030
Tournament details
Host countries Uruguay
 Argentina
 Paraguay
 Chile
Teams48 (from 6 confederations)
Venue(s)16 (from 53 options)

The intended bid had initially been shared between only Uruguay and Argentina.[5][6] The intended bid followed an earlier web movement claiming that FIFA should give Uruguay hosting rights for the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup, which was held in Uruguay and won by Uruguay. Argentina played in the deciding match of the 1930 FIFA World Cup.

The Uruguay–Argentina intention to bid was officially confirmed on 29 July 2017 before Paraguay was confirmed as the third host on 4 October 2017. Chile confirmed their bid to host with the group on 14 February 2019 as a joint communique from the confirmed nations.[7] Bolivia also made a request to join, and Peru was rumoured to be interested in hosting.[8][9] The joint bid was officially launched on 7 February 2023.[10]

On 4 October 2023, the Morocco–Portugal–Spain bid was selected over the South American bid, with Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay being selected to host three inaugural matches on the occasion of the centenary of the 1930 World Cup.[11]

History

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Background

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On 4 October 2005, during his visit to Uruguay to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the inaugural FIFA World Cup, FIFA President Sepp Blatter had a meeting with the Uruguayan President Tabaré Vázquez. In that meeting Vázquez formally suggested that Uruguay could co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with another Mercosur nation to commemorate the centenary of Uruguay 1930.

After the meeting, Blatter stated, "During our meeting, the President told me of his dream of seeing this tournament hosted in the region. I told him that today's dream could be tomorrow's vision, which in turn could become a proper initiative and finally a project. At present, the South American Football Confederation is scheduled to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and all (national) associations will be able to present their candidature when we begin the selection process at the end of 2006. Dr Nicholas Leoz tells me that with the system of rotation it will be the turn of South America in 2030. That is the situation as it currently stands.".[12]

Announcement of the intention to bid

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A graphical representation of the shirts worn by Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi to promote the bid

The bidding period has not started, so an official bid is not possible at this stage. A joint bid intention was announced by the Argentine Football Association and the Uruguayan Football Association on 29 July 2017.[13] Before Uruguay and Argentina played out a goalless draw in Montevideo, Uruguay player Luis Suárez and Argentine captain Lionel Messi – who happened to be teammates at FC Barcelona – promoted the bid with commemorative shirts.[14]

On 31 August 2017, it was suggested Paraguay would join as a third host.[15] CONMEBOL, the South American confederation, confirmed the joint three-way bid in September 2017.[16] The inclusion of Paraguay as a host had previously been opposed by key Uruguayan Football Association official Wilmar Valdéz and President Tabaré Vázquez.[17][18]

On 14 February 2019, Chilean president Sebastián Piñera announced on his Twitter account that Chile will join the CONMEBOL bid and plans to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. A formal announcement between all four presidents is expected but yet to be confirmed.[19]

Finally, on 7 February 2023, the 4 federations officially launched the joint bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.[10]

Promotion of the candidacy

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While the Iniciativa 2030 commission continues to work on the project,[20] in June 2018 the Uruguayan Post Office launched some stamps about this bid,[21] promoting the candidacy for the 2030 World Cup.[22][23]

Also, during the 2018 World Cup, a provisional Conmebol headquarters was installed in Russia to promote the joint candidacy.[24] They did different activities to publicize the candidacy, and in that way they presented a photographic and film exhibition of the 1930 World Cup, played in Uruguay.

During the celebration of the Copa América 2019, held in Brazil, the spot and the official posters of the candidacy were released, with a presentation made by Conmebol, which exhibited them at all times.

During the 76th FIFA Congress in March 2023, CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez promoted the bid, claiming that “[w]e have to have the Centenary World Cup here, to honour history.”[25]

Pause due to the pandemic

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In March 2020, due to the arrival in the region of the coronavirus disease pandemic, talks between the countries were stopped.

To encourage the candidacy, in 2021 CONMEBOL determined that Uruguay will be the venue for the men's and women's Copa Libertadores finals, designating the Centenario and Gran Parque Central stadiums, respectively, as the venues for the two events. The idea of the confederation was for Uruguay to acquire international notoriety by hosting the tournaments, which, for example, Argentina and Chile have achieved with the holding of Copa Américas or Paraguay by also hosting a continental event.[26] CONMEBOL also invested two million dollars in various reforms in the Centenario stadium, to take advantage of the occasion and promote the re-launch of the South American candidacy.

The Uruguayan Secretary of National Sports, Sebastián Bauzá, said in October 2021 that, despite the break, the spirit of winning the venue remains "unaltered".[citation needed] In charge of the Chilean commission, the journalist Michael Boys, declared: "There is not so much trouble. First comes the official application in 2022. After a few months, FIFA will deliver the technical requirements. And then comes the whole political and diplomatic part: get the votes so that the seat is elected". FIFA extended the deadline for official applications until the end of 2022.[citation needed]

Bidding process

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The bidding process was launched in the second quarter of 2022; a host will be chosen at the 74th FIFA Congress in 2024.[27]

Qualification

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48 teams will qualify for the World Cup with the current format set by United 2026. If the bid is accepted and they do win over other rival bids, then Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile would automatically qualify.

Major sporting events hosting experiences

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Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay have all hosted various major sporting events. The following is an incomplete list:

Bid committee

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On 20 March 2019, Argentina President Mauricio Macri, Chile President Sebastián Piñera, Paraguay President Mario Abdo and Uruguay President Tabare Vazquez accepted to create a bid committee with a representative from each country to coordinate with CONMEBOL. The first meeting will be in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 8 April 2019.[28]

Venues by country

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For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it has been confirmed that stadiums must have a capacity of at least 40,000 for group round, second round, and quarter final matches, 60,000 for the semi-finals, and at least 80,000 for the Opening Match and Final. As of yet the rules for 2030 have not been announced.[29]

There are no specific details of the venues that will be proposed by the Uruguay-Argentina, Uruguay-Argentina-Paraguay or Uruguay-Argentina-Paraguay-Chile bid, but according to the statements, some information can be deduced. According to information that made public after Paraguay aspire to be included in the event, it was unofficially known that Argentina would have eight venues, that Uruguay would have three stadiums and that Paraguay would add two scenarios to the proposal.[30]

† denotes stadium used for previous men's World Cup tournaments (Argentina, Chile and Uruguay only).

Argentina

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In 2012, after a meeting between executives from Uruguay and Argentina, it was confirmed that the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata and the Estadio Centenario would be two of the main venues of the project.[31]

Also a new stadium in Santiago del Estero, the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades was built for the candidature.[32][33][34][35]

In October 2017, an official councilor from Mar del Plata proposed to start a process so that the city could be declared as an Argentine sub-venue for the event.[36] Also San Juan was also proposed as a venue of the World Cup, planning to reform the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario.[37] Argentina has the only stadium in the Southern Cone with a capacity of at least 80,000.

Chile

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Chile has currently only two stadiums of over 40,000 seats, both located in its capital Santiago (Nacional and Monumental). Other stadiums could require major investments as many other stadiums in other co-bid nations.

In March 2019, President Piñera announced that Chile would propose five cities for hosting the tournament: Santiago, Concepción, Antofagasta and Valparaíso, with a fifth city between Coquimbo and Temuco yet to be decided.[38] Every stadium would need to be renewed in order to comply with the required eligibility criteria.

Paraguay

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The fact of planning a joint bid between Uruguay and Argentina for the 2030 World Cup, corresponds to the fear of the Uruguayans of not being able to host a world tournament due to its scarce sports infrastructure. For this reason, the Paraguayan intention is to provide two venues and argue their inclusion in order to ensure the success of the candidacy.

In this case, about possible Paraguayan stadiums, both scenarios will correspond to the Asunción sub-sector, and it is speculated that they will be the Defensores del Chaco Stadium and the recently reopened General Pablo Rojas Stadium, popularly known as La Nueva Olla.[30] Like the Uruguayan case with Montevideo, Paraguay must receive the authorization of FIFA for that the sub-office in Asunción can provide two stadiums for the candidature.

In turn, the second Paraguayan headquarters would be in Ciudad del Este or Encarnación.[39] The Antonio Aranda Stadium (Ciudad del Este) is could be the second Paraguayan headquarters, following a project by the club 3 de Febrero to modernize the stadium and have a capacity of 50.000 spectators, being the biggest stadium in Paraguay.[40]

In 2019, Paraguayan digital newspaper D10 reported that Club Cerro Porteño's Estadio General Pablo Rojas was chosen as Asunción's venue, whilst the other chosen venue was the Villa Alegre Stadium in the city of Encarnación.[41]

Uruguay

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The Estadio Centenario would be one of the Uruguayan stadiums, and a candidate to host the final match. According to the former president of the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF), Wilmar Valdez, Uruguay will have only two cities hosting matches, which will be Montevideo and Maldonado.

A likely candidate for a host stadium would be the Estadio Centenario, where the final of the first world championship was played in 1930 and which is Uruguay's largest stadium. With respect to the Maldonado sub-station, it would be the only stadium in that department, Domingo Burgueño Miguel Stadium. However, the organization plans a third stadium in Uruguay, which would be another one in the Montevideo sub-center.

Only two other stadiums in Montevideo could be taken into account: the Estadio Gran Parque Central (also host the first World Cup), or the recently inaugurated Estadio Campeón del Siglo. Also since the end of 2012, Nacional has been promoting the inclusion of Gran Parque Central as the second stadium of the Montevideo venue in 2030,[42] which it ratified again in 2017.[43][44] The argument that will be presented for Nacional's request of a second stadium in Montevideo will be the history of the stadium as one of the first two World Cup stadiums, together with the former Pocitos Stadium.[45] According to the president of the AUF, Wilmar Valdez, the stadium of Peñarol (Estadio Campeón del Siglo) will not be taken into account due to its accessibility problems.[46]

In April 2018 it was confirmed that Uruguay would present two venues (Montevideo and one in the interior of the country) and that the Uruguayan organization would have four stadiums: Centenario, Gran Parque Central and Campeón del Siglo in Montevideo, and also a new stadium outside of the capital.[46] 300 million dollars will be invested[clarification needed] to modernize the Estadio Centenario and another stadium will be built in the interior (probably in Punta del Este or Colonia) with an investment of also 300 million dollars.[47]

Potential venues

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During the 76th CONMEBOL Ordinary Congress on 31 March 2023, a video was shown introducing the possible venues that the bid would have, shown below.[48] Considering that forty-eight teams will compete, it has been noted[by whom?] that "at least twelve stadiums" will be required, but the number of possible stadiums could be higher.

  Buenos Aires
   Santiago de Chile
   Santiago de Chile
   Concepción
   Luque
Antonio Vespucio Liberti Nacional Julio Martínez Estadio Monumental David Arellano Ester Roa Rebolledo Estadio Conmebol (planned)
Capacity: 83,000 Capacity: 48,000 Capacity: 43,000 Capacity: 33,000 Capacity: 60,000
         
  La Plata
Uruguay–Argentina–Chile–Paraguay 2030 FIFA World Cup bid (South America)
Uruguay–Argentina–Chile–Paraguay 2030 FIFA World Cup bid(South America)
  Asunción
Ciudad de La Plata General Pablo Rojas
Capacity: 53,000 Capacity: 45,000
   
  Córdoba
   Asunción
Mario Alberto Kempes Defensores del Chaco
Capacity: 57,000 Capacity: 45,000
   
  Santiago del Estero
   Ciudad del Este
Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades Antonio Aranda
Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 28,000
   
  Avellaneda
   Encarnación
Estadio Libertadores de América Estadio Villa Alegre
Capacity: 48,000 Capacity: 16,000
WC Capacity: 45,000
   
  Avellaneda
   Mendoza
   Montevideo
   Montevideo
   Montevideo
Estadio Presidente Juan Domingo Perón Malvinas Argentinas Centenario Gran Parque Central Estadio Campeón del Siglo
Capacity: 51,000 Capacity: 42,000 Capacity: 60,000 Capacity: 34,000 Capacity: 40,000
         

Other potential venues

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Controversy

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While some have supported the bid for its symbolic return to where the World Cup started, there has been some concern about both the economic and security situation in South America. Examples of political instability include the 2021 anti-government protests in Colombia (which led to the country losing hosting rights to the 2021 Copa América[49]), instability in Peru, and protests in Ecuador and Brazil. Two countries in the region (but not included in the World Cup bid) gave up hosting rights to international competitions in 2022-23: Ecuador withdrew from hosting the 2024 Copa América due to economic concerns,[50] while Peru withdrew from hosting the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup due to the country's inability to fulfill its commitments to completing the infrastructure required to stage the tournament.[51]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Conmebol promociona el Mundial de Uruguay-Argentina-Paraguay 2030". 180 Uruguay.
  2. ^ Observador, El. "Uruguay tiene la prioridad para recibir la final del Mundial 2030, anuncian presidentes". El Observador.
  3. ^ España ya tiene rival para albergar el Mundial 2030: los peligros de la candidatura sudamericana
  4. ^ En Uruguay lanzan candidatura para el Mundial Centenario
  5. ^ "Valdez: "La candidatura original es Uruguay-Argentina"". Diario EL PAIS Uruguay. 8 September 2017.
  6. ^ Barreiro, Ramiro (2 September 2017). "Messi y Suárez apadrinan el Mundial Uruguay Argentina 2030". El País.
  7. ^ "Chile joins Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay in World Cup bid". Reuters. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Bolivia asks to join South American bid to host 2030 FIFA World Cup". Business Standard. 21 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Chile no se rinde con ser sede". Diario EL PAIS Uruguay (in Spanish). 11 September 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Juntos 2030: ¡La CONMEBOL apoya candidatura de Sudamérica para el Mundial!". 7 February 2023.
  11. ^ FIFA (4 October 2023). "FIFA Council takes key decisions on FIFA World Cup editions in 2030 and 2034". FIFA. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  12. ^ "FIFA official website, 11 October 2005". Archived from the original on 30 April 2010.
  13. ^ Dudko, James (29 July 2017). "Argentina, Uruguay Announce Bid to Host 2030 FIFA World Cup". Bleacher Report. Turner Broadcasting System.
  14. ^ Gadd, Mick (1 September 2017). "Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez campaign for Uruguay and Argentina's 2030 World Cup bid before 0-0 draw". Daily Mirror.
  15. ^ "Es oficial: Paraguay se suma a la candidatura de Argentina y Uruguay para el Mundial 2030" [It's official: Paraguay adds itself to the Argentina and Uruguay bid] (in Spanish). 5 September 2017.
  16. ^ "Sin Messi ni Suárez, así es el primer video promocional para la candidatura del Mundial 2030" [Without Messi and Suarez, here is the first promotional video for the 2030 World Cup bid] (in Spanish). 5 September 2017.
  17. ^ "Molestia en Uruguay por video de Conmebol". Diario EL PAIS Uruguay. 5 September 2017.
  18. ^ Uruguay amenaza con bajarse del Mundial 2030 si se suma Paraguay - El Observador, 20 September 2017
  19. ^ Piñera, Sebastián (14 February 2019). "Los Pdtes de la República Argentina, Mauricio Macri; de la República de Chile, Sebastián Piñera; de la República del Paraguay, Mario Abdo; y de la República Oriental del Uruguay, Tabaré Vázquez; acordaron presentar su candidatura conjunta para organizar la Copa del Mundo 2030". Twitter (in Spanish). @sebastianpinera. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  20. ^ La candidatura al Mundial 2030 va a ser nuestra
  21. ^ 2030 Juntos
  22. ^ Uruguay, Argentina y Paraguay lanzan sello postal para apoyar mundial de 2030
  23. ^ Uruguay crea sello impulsando candidatura al mundial de 2030
  24. ^ Uruguay, Argentina y Paraguay abrirán sede en Rusia para promocionar Copa Mundial de 2030
  25. ^ It would be a mistake not to stage 2030 centenary World Cup in South America - CONMEBOL
  26. ^ Tres finales de copas internacionales volverán a poner a Uruguay "en los ojos del mundo"
  27. ^ "Who will host 2030 FIFA World Cup? Bids from Africa, South America, and Europe in the running, including Ukraine". www.sportingnews.com. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  28. ^ "Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay relaunch 2030 World Cup bid". IOL. 21 March 2019.
  29. ^ "UNITED BID COMMITTEE COMMENCES OUTREACH FOR POTENTIAL HOST CITIES IN BID FOR 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP". US Soccer. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  30. ^ a b González, Alejandro Casar; Czyz, Fernando (September 2017). "Se sumó Paraguay y ahora el sueño de recibir la Copa del Mundo es tripartito - LA NACION". La Nación – via La Nacion (Argentina).
  31. ^ "Uruguay y Argentina piensan en Mundial 2030". futbol.com.uy - Montevideo Portal.
  32. ^ "Así lucirá el estadio que construirá Argentina pensando en el 2030". Diario EL PAIS Uruguay. 13 April 2018.
  33. ^ "Video: así será el Estadio Único de Santiago del Estero | + Deportes". Los Andes. 13 April 2018.
  34. ^ de 2018, 13 de Abril (13 April 2018). "Así será el Estadio Único de Santiago del Estero que será sede de la Selección". infobae.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ "Así será el Estadio Único de Santiago del Estero - TyC Sports". www.tycsports.com. 13 April 2018.
  36. ^ "Proponen a Mar del Plata como subsede para el Mundial de Fútbol 2030". www.diario4v.com.
  37. ^ Amarilla, Doble (17 October 2017). "San Juan ya se propone como subsede del Mundial 2030". Doble Amarilla.
  38. ^ Leal Castillo, Ignacio (19 March 2019). "Chile propone cinco ciudades" [Chile proposes five cities] (in Spanish). La Tercera. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  39. ^ "ESPN - Lo último del mundo deportivo". ESPN.com.ar.
  40. ^ "3 de Febrero proyecta tener el estadio con mayor aforo". d10.ultimahora.com.
  41. ^ "Paraguay anticipa sus sedes para el Mundial 2030" [Paraguay presents its venues for the 2030 World Cup]. D10 (in Spanish). 18 July 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  42. ^ "Nacional apunta al Gran Parque Central como estadio para el mundial de 2030 (Spanish)". Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  43. ^ ""El partido inaugural del Mundial 2030 debe jugarse en el Gran Parque Central"". Diario EL PAIS Uruguay. 8 October 2017.
  44. ^ "El ambicioso plan de Nacional con su estadio para el Mundial 2030". AS Chile. 6 November 2017.
  45. ^ "Más grande para 2030 (Spanish)". Archived from the original on 9 September 2011.
  46. ^ a b "Repartieron sedes del Mundial 2030: ocho en Argentina, dos en Uruguay y en Paraguay (Spanish)". Jugarían en los estadios Centenario, Campeón del Siglo y Parque Central en Montevideo y en otro en el interior.
  47. ^ Observador, El. "Uruguay ante el desafío de un estadio mundialista". El Observador.
  48. ^ Sigue la transmisión en vivo del 76° Congreso Ordinario de la CONMEBOL, on the official website of CONMEBOL, March 31st 2023.
  49. ^ "CONMEBOL's Copa America mess: Argentina forced to pull out of hosting duties due to COVID-19 struggles". CBSSports.com. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  50. ^ "Ya es oficial: Ecuador no será sede de la Copa América 2024". El Universo (in Spanish). 9 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  51. ^ "Peru withdrawn as host of FIFA U-17 World Cup 2023™". FIFA. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
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