Andy Burnham has said he wants to bring the men’s World Cup to the UK in 2042, returning the tournament to Britain for the first time in almost eight decades. During informal discussions at No 10 North in Manchester on Friday, the prime minister told regional mayors he was keen for the tournament to be played in the British Isles. The World Cup took place in England in 1966, when the home side beat West Germany 4-2 in the final after extra time – the only time the country has either hosted or won the contest. Burnham, a keen football fan who has a season ticket at Everton, said earlier this month that it was ‘insane’ only one World Cup had been held anywhere in the UK. It is understood an application to stage the competition could also involve other home nations, none of which have hosted any World Cup games. In recent years, joint bids between countries for major football tournaments have become more common. Alongside the Republic of Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will host the men’s European championships in 2028. Work has not yet begun on any official bid for the 2042 event but it is understood Downing Street would support the FA should it choose to pursue it. Burnham is also understood to have spoken about the possibility of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the north of England in the 2040s at Friday’s meeting. Ugandans may find renewed interest in the bid if it opens doors for African players to feature in the tournament. The Fifa rules ensuring the World Cup rotates across confederations mean no European country could host until 2042. England’s failed 2018 bid and Burnham’s past criticism of Russia’s 2014 hosting add layers to this renewed advocacy. Uganda’s football fans, used to following global events, may analyze this bid through an African lens. How might this affect Uganda’s World Cup qualifying hopes or fan engagement in the coming years? Burnham’s push aligns with his ‘broad aspirations’ for UK football events. Earlier this year, UK Sport assessed a bid under Keir Starmer. The story ends not with a conclusion but with the unresolved question of whether Uganda or other African nations could benefit from such a global event.
Source: The Guardian
