In a surprising move anchored in the armed conflict that has kept Europe in crisis since February, Spain Y Portugal announced this Wednesday that their joint bid to organize the 2030 World Cup will be added to Ukraine with the aim of “building bridges and projecting a message of unity, solidarity and generosity on the part of all European football”.

The news was communicated during a press conference held at the headquarters of the A. Uefa in Nyon, Switzerland, and where the presidents of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales; from the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), Fernando Gomes; and by the Ukrainian Football Association (AUF), Andriy Pavelko.

The decision attracted attention because the country that joined this project is going through a war conflict with Russia whose resolution is still very uncertain, so organizing a sporting event doesn’t seem like a priority these days. And also because it would be the first time that such an initiative has been promoted by nations that do not share a common border.

The Uefa, which has given “maximum support” to this project, as reported by RFEF through a press release, has already held three editions of the European Championship in neighboring countries: Belgium and the Netherlands in 2000, Austria and Switzerland in 2008, and Poland and Ukraine in 2012. Although it is worth remembering that last year’s special edition was exceptionally developed in 11 countries. FIFA, for its part, had a first experience in 2002 with South Korea and Japan (they do not share a common border, but are separated by the Sea of ​​Japan). and will repeat it in 2026 with Mexico, the United States and Canada.

“This decision may have surprised some, but for us it was logical and natural,” said Fernando Gomes. And he argued: “We all hope that the war will end in 2030. Ukrainians will need help and helping them means integrating them into projects of this dimension, giving them hope for the future ”. Meanwhile, Luis Rubiales assured that the Iberian candidacy, made official on June 5, 2021 before the friendly between the selected teams of Spain and Portugal in Madrid, was now “the European candidacy”.

While no details were given on Ukrainian cities that would host the tournament or the number of matches that would take place on Ukrainian soil, Rubiales has ratified that the institutional seat of the competition will continue to be Madrid and the administrative headquarters, Lisbon. “The Ukrainian arrival does not alter the timetable established: Spain maintains its eleven offices and Portugal will continue with three”, specified the RFEF in its statement.

The inclusion of Ukraine was supported by the governments of Spain and Portugal and the Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky. “We have already demonstrated our ability to organize high-level events. Spain and Portugal are prepared to host the 2030 World Cup together with Ukraine,” Spanish President Pedro Sánchez and the Prime Minister wrote on their Twitter accounts. Portuguese, Antonio Costa.

The new European tripartite candidacy contributes to the organization of the World Cup which will celebrate the centenary of the largest planetary soccer tournament with the one presented in August by Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguaywhich offer as a strong symbolic card the possibility of bringing the tournament to the same corner of the world in which that first edition took place.

Although there were no other official projects, it is speculated that Greece, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are also negotiating to promote another candidacy three way. The mystery will only be revealed in 2024, when the venue will be defined at the 74th FIFA Congress.