England preparing World Cup 2030 bid as FA chiefs look to build on feel-good factor from this summer,
Reports England could step in to host the 2022 competition in the unlikely event Qatar lose the tournament have been dismissed though
The Football Association is lining up a bid to stage the World Cup in England.
After the feel-good summer when Football’s Coming Home became the nation’s anthem, the FA have decided to explore the possibility of bidding for the 2030 tournament.
Greg Clarke, chief executive of the FA, said: “Last month, the English FA board agreed to conduct a feasibility work into the possibility of putting itself forward to be UEFA’s potential candidate to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
“The work will take place during the new season and no decision will be made until 2019.”
Theresa May has caved in to pressure and agreed to back a bid for the World Cup in 2030.
The PM gave her official backing to mounting calls for the country to finally bring football home by bidding to stage the tournament.
It came after Labour Shadow Sports Minister Rosena Allin-Khan urged ministers to lend their “fullest support” to any FA bid. May said she would be “happy” to discuss proposals with FA chiefs to host the centenary World Cup in 2030, her spokesman revealed.
He also said the Government was not ruling out a UK-wide bid, taking in all four home nations. The spokesman said: “We are happy to sit down with football bodies to discuss any proposals they might have to bid for the World Cup.
The FA will make sure it has prior backing after the high-profile bid to stage the 2018 World Cup ended in embarrassing defeat.
Clarke also rubbished suggestions England could step in to host the 2022 competition in the unlikely event Qatar lose the tournament.
He explained: “FIFA has chosen Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup and they have a duty to investigate any issues around the process that are rightly thrown into question.
“We have a superb track record for putting on major sporting events and we have the stadiums, infrastructure and experience to deliver should a bid be successful.”
Ms Allin-Khan said: “The prospect of a bid for 2030 has received international encouragement. It is time to capitalise on the renewed passion for the national team and finally bring football home.”
And Labour Deputy Leader Tom Watson said it would be fitting for the tournament to be held “in the nation where football was born”.