Theresa May backs UK and Ireland World Cup bid It would mark the World Cup's centenary. UK Prime Minister Theresa May says a bid for the 2030 World Cup would have her government's "full support." Advertisement A joint bid from the UK and Ireland by the Football Associations of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland is being considered, the Prime Minister said. London and Glasgow will host 11 fixtures in 2020's UEFA European Championships, with a semi and the final being played at Wembley. Theresa May said: "The decision on whether to bid is, of course, for the football associations to make. "But if they decide to go forward they can count on this government's full support." Tom Watson, Labour's deputy leader and shadow secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport, said in July any future Labour government would support a bid. He said: "I'm delighted that the prime minister has followed Labour's lead. "This summer's World Cup and the performance of England inspired the nation. Advertisement "In 2030, it's time for football to come home." In Russia 2018, England had their best run at a tournament for most in living memory. Placing fourth after a losing 2-0 to Belgium in the third place play off.<doc-sep>Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter by email with the day's key headlines and transfer news Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice The UK and Ireland are planning a joint bid for the 2030 World Cup, the Prime Minister has revealed. Theresa May said the football ­associations of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland were working on a proposal for FIFA. She said on Friday: “If they decide to go forward, they can count on this Government’s full support.” The last time a major football tournament was held in the UK was Euro 96 – the English FA applied to host the 2018 World Cup but lost to Russia. George Cohen, 78, who was in the World Cup-winning squad of 1966, said: “We had a little taste of the carnival atmosphere with Euro 96. (Image: Popperfoto) (Image: Daily Mirror) “And if it was the World Cup I’m sure it would be an amazing experience for the players, who always seem to up their game at home, but also for supporters. “We have enjoyed every minute of being a World Cup winner but it’s time now for a younger breed of English lions to win a World Cup on English shores.” Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay are also planning a joint bid for 2030. And it is possible there will be an African bid after Morocco lost out to the US for the 2026 tournament. London and Glasgow will host 11 games in the UEFA European Championships in 2020, with Wembley staging the final. Labour deputy leader and Shadow Sport Secretary Tom Watson said: "Back in July I announced that a future Labour Government would lend its full backing to bid for the World Cup in 2030. “I'm delighted that the Prime Minister has followed Labour's lead and is willing to back a bid. “This summer's world cup and the performance of England inspired the nation. “In 2030, it's time for football to come home.” Labour MP and Cardiff City season ticket holder Jo Stevens, who sits on Parliament's cross-party group for football supporters, said: “It's great to see the Prime Minister follow Labour and backing the 2030 home nations' World Cup bid. “I hope the Government will commit to funding the necessary infrastructure investment, particularly travel, to ensure that as many fans across the UK can be a part of a World Cup that will warmly welcome supporters from across the globe. “Our best chance of a successful bid is a UK-wide inclusive bid incorporating games in all home nation major cities. “We showed in Cardiff in the 2017 Champions League that we are more than capable of hosting a major global sporting fixture and I hope to be welcoming the World Cup to our capital city in 2030.” Britain has hosted a string of glittering sporting events in the past decade, and is due to hold a fresh raft of top spectacles. London and Glasgow will host 11 games in the Uefa European Championships in 2020 with Wembley hosting the semi-finals and the final. In the last six years the UK has successfully hosted the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the 2014 Tour De France Grand Depart and the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Any England bid would face opposition from the joint campaign of Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay which could be buoyed by the fact 2030 marks 100 years since the first World Cup, held in Uruguay in 1930. It is also possible there will be an African bid, especially in light of Morocco's defeat to the USA for the 2026 tournament. Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, a Blackburn Rovers fan, said: "Football fans across the UK will be excited at the prospect of football coming home. "We have an outstanding record of putting on sporting events, and a World Cup on these shores could inspire millions to get active. "After a summer of own goals, it looks like Theresa May has finally grasped one good news story."<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter by email with the day's key headlines and transfer news Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice The World Cup could be heading for the UK and Ireland in 2030. Prime Minister Theresa May has revealed the football ­associations of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland were working on a proposal for FIFA. The last time a major football tournament was held in the UK was Euro 96 – the English FA applied to host the 2018 World Cup but lost to Russia. But she said this week: “If they decide to go forward, they can count on this Government’s full support.” Here is 10 possible stadiums that could host matches if the tournament is held in the UK. Wembley Stadium, London (Image: Getty Images Europe) Of course, the home of football would likely stage the final and the biggest games of the tournament. It is already due to play host to the final of Euro 2020 and would be a perfect platform for the biggest game of football over the course of four years. Despite the FA being in talks over a sale of the stadium, it would continue to host major football matches. Old Trafford, Manchester (Image: PA) Naturally, the biggest stadium in the Premier League would have to play a part, and it could play second fiddle to Wembley and host a semi-final and the third placed play-off should England steal the rights. Furthermore, many fans worldwide are Manchester United supporters are would love the opportunity to see the Theatre of Dreams for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Anfield, Liverpool (Image: Liverpool FC) The famous Kop belt their hearts out for their men in red during the Premier League season, and many players will want to touch the famous sign above the tunnel when they walk out onto football’s biggest stage. It has of course been expanded in recent years. The Emirates, London (Image: REUTERS) A carpet-like pitch, a view from every seat in the capacity and rocking when the crowd is engaged, Arsenal’s home is a beautiful place to watch beautiful football. It would undoubtedly be selected as a possible venue. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London Tottenham’s new 62,000 seater is yet to be open - much to the frustration of Spurs fans. It will host major NFL matches in months to come, offering an insight into how it will cope with major occasions. St James’ Park, Newcastle (Image: Getty Images Europe) The atmosphere at St James’ would be among the best in the competition. It would be vital for visiting fans to experience different cultures and cities during a World Cup. Villa Park, Birmingham (Image: EMPICS Sport) The Midlands would likely be involved, especially with the number of huge clubs that lie in the area. Villa Park is a wonderful place to watch entertaining football, and is the biggest ground of all those in the Midlands. The tight area between pitch and supporter ramps up the atmosphere and the compactness of the ground itself helps to keep the noise in. The Etihad Stadium, Manchester (Image: REUTERS) The FA would likely include both Manchester clubs in its stadium list. Although not quite the best of atmospheres at times, the 55,000 capacity would surely be filled to the brim if the World Cup came calling. Hampden Park, Glasgow (Image: PA Wire) Should Scotland be part of the bid, their national stadium would surely be in contention to host matches. The 51,866-capacity stadium would undoubtedly get big crowds. Scotland would hope they could be involved in the tournament to make it even more special. Principality Stadium, Cardiff (Image: PA Archive) Wales' football team now play their home games at Cardiff's ground but the stadium would likely be selected for the World Cup. The Principality Stadium, formerly the Millennium Stadium, is primarily used for Wales rugby matches and has also hosted Anthony Joshua fights. It boasts a capacity of over 74,000.<doc-sep>
The government has joined the Labour party in offering to support a joint bid from the UK and Ireland to host the 2030 World Cup. The football associations of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland are considering whether to put forward an official proposal. Speaking on the eve of the Conservative party conference in Birmingham, Theresa May said a future bid would have the government’s full support. “Following the excitement of this summer’s World Cup, the English FA are working together with the FAs of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland to explore whether there could be a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup,” the prime minister said. “The decision on whether to bid is, of course, for the football associations to make. But if they decide to go forward, they can count on this government’s full support.” Labour welcomed the announcement, with the shadow culture secretary, Tom Watson, pointing out it had backed the proposal in July. “I’m delighted that the prime minister has followed Labour’s lead and is willing to back a bid,” the deputy Labour leader said. “This summer’s World Cup and the performance of England inspired the nation. In 2030, it’s time for football to come home.” England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup ended in humiliation after it received two votes from Fifa’s 22-member executive committee in December 2010. The procedure has been embroiled in controversy since the 2018 and 2022 tournaments were awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively, after widespread corruption was uncovered within the sport’s highest governing body. A court heard last year that a Fifa official took bribes to back Qatar’s successful 2022 World Cup bid – the first to be held in winter. The former Fifa president Sepp Blatter is among various prominent figures to have been indicted following suggestions that officials had decided before the vote took place that Russia would host the 2018 World Cup.