Ukraine will join Spain and Portugal in a joint bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup

As bids continue to roll in for the 2030 FIFA Men’s World Cup, Ukraine is the latest nation to throw their name in the ring. Ukraine will join Spain and Portugal in an attempt to host for 2030 with the hope that Russia will have vacated the country by then.

The announcement is expected to be made on Wednesday in a press conference with the bid being fully supported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. While Ukraine would only be hosting one of the groups for the first round of play, it would add dimension to the Portugal and Spain bid giving more options for games to be played and a more balanced schedule.

Due to the invasion by Russia, Ukraine is currently unable to host anything which has resulted in the Ukrainian Men’s National Team playing its matches in Poland. The Ukrainian domestic league is also being played in Poland to ensure the players and spectators remain safe. In 2012, Poland and Ukraine jointly hosted the European Championships which proves Ukraine is capable of hosting large-scale events in more peaceful times.

All other bids on the table are from co-hosts, as well, with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Greece sharing one and Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile representing a South American bid. The South American bid has some weight behind it with 2030 marking the 100th year of the FIFA World Cup. Uruguay hosted the inaugural tournament in 1930, so the hope is to bring it back to where it began to mark the centennial.

UEFA has backed Spain, Portugal and Ukraine’s bid, but the wait is now on to see who else may back the three nations and vote in their favor.