Fifa to ‘mitigate environmental impact’ of 2030 World Cup to be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco
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The decision to host the 2030 tournament across three continents has attracted criticism from climate activists.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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ZURICH – Fifa will take measures to “mitigate the environmental impact” of the three-continent 2030 World Cup, world football’s governing body said.
Fifa last week named Morocco, Spain and Portugal as hosts of the 2030 tournament,
The decision to host the tournament across three continents attracted criticism from climate activists, who cited emissions related to the additional travel required.
Sepp Blatter, who was Fifa President from 1998 to 2015, before being forced out after a corruption investigation, told Swiss newspaper SonntagsBlick: “It is absurd to tear the tournament apart in this way... For historical reasons, the 2030 World Cup should have belonged exclusively in South America.
“The World Cup finals must be a compact event,” he said, adding this was important for the identity of the event, for the organisation and for visitors.
On its website, Fifa highlighted the fact that just three games would be played in South America, adding: “Morocco, Portugal and Spain will be the hosts of the Fifa World Cup 2030.
“Therefore, for 101 games, the tournament will be played in a footprint of neighbouring countries in close geographic proximity and with extensive and well-developed transport links and infrastructure.
“Fifa will take all required measures to mitigate the environmental impact of the Fifa World Cup. From a sustainability point of view, it’s also worth mentioning that only one bid significantly reduces travel in relation to site inspection visits and other meetings.”
Fifa also confirmed that Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay would automatically qualify for the tournament, meaning six out of 48 teams have been confirmed.
“Morocco, Portugal and Spain, as tournament hosts, and Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, as hosts of the centenary celebration, will qualify automatically from the slot allocation quota of their respective confederations,” Fifa said.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia announced it took the second step to bid for 2034 World Cup by submitting a letter of intent to host the event to Fifa on Monday.
“Last week, we announced our ambitions to host the 2034 Fifa World Cup, and this official submission continues our journey to make the dreams of our people a reality,” Yasser Al Misehal, president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation SAFF, said in a statement.
“We are extremely committed to presenting the most competitive bid possible that will also help unite the world through football,” he added.
The SAFF said that once it declared its intention on Wednesday to bid for the tournament, “over 70 Fifa member associations from across different continents have publicly pledged their support for the kingdom”.
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said on Thursday his organisation is still exploring a bid to host the 2034 World Cup, despite the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) having declared support for Saudi Arabia.
Fifa had said last week that it was inviting bids from the Asian and Oceanian continental confederations for the 2034 World Cup.
Australia, which switched to the AFC from Oceania in 2006, has already announced its intention to bid for the 2034 tournament and Johnson said nothing had changed.
The deadline for prospective hosts to submit their confirmations of interest is Oct 31.
Australia has never hosted a men’s World Cup and was eliminated in the first round of voting for the 2022 event.
Over in Europe, The UK and Ireland are set to be named co-hosts of the 2028 European Championship with the 2032 edition set to be co-hosted by Italy and Turkey.
Both bids are running unopposed and look set to be confirmed at a Uefa meeting in Switzerland on Tuesday. REUTERS
