NYON, Switzerland — Ukrainian football
association (UAF) president
Andriy Pavelko said European football was “united”
after his country was added to Portugal and Spain’s bid to host the 2030 World
Cup.
اضافة اعلان
The original proposal from Spain and Portugal was
announced two years ago but has been given a political impetus by Russia’s
invasion of Ukraine.
“United as never before, the European football
family, having condemned the crimes against the
Ukrainian people, proved its
commitment to the values that underlie our organization,” Pavelko told
reporters.
“I thank you and all the friendly national
associations for the help on behalf of thousands of little players — girls and
boys from Mariupol, Kharkiv, Kherson, Irpin, Bucha, and many other cities that
were subjected to barbaric military aggression.”
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin
signed into legislation his annexation of four Ukrainian territories —
including Lugansk — as the EU agreed a new round of sanctions against Moscow in
response.
In recent weeks, Ukraine’s forces, bolstered by
Western weapons, have wrested Russian troops out of a string of towns and
villages in the east and in the south.
“These children were forced to leave their homes,
their clubs, and football schools, fleeing from bullets and shells,” Pavelko
said.
“Many of them received your support and found
shelter in various European countries.
“Now they can continue to play football in European
clubs and have made new friends all over Europe.
“The war will end, and we will organize World Cup
2030 matches together with Spain and Portugal at the highest level.”
War-torn Ukraine applied for EU membership just five
days after Russia’s February 24 invasion and the bloc accepted the candidacy in
June.
“Ukraine’s participation in the bid to host the
2030 World Cup is also important for the unification and strengthening of Europe in
these difficult times,” Pavelko said.
“The joint holding of the 2030 World Cup with Spain
and Portugal will be a vivid historical event that will symbolize the unity of
Europe from Lisbon to Kyiv, Donetsk, Lugansk and Sevastopol.”
UEFA support
The
Spanish football federation (RFEF) said in a statement the idea was backed by UEFA president
Aleksander Ceferin.
“The institutional headquarters are in Madrid, the
administrative headquarters are in Lisbon. Now the Ukrainian delegation will
unite with us,” RFEF president Luis Rubiales said.
“In the coming months, we will come to work on practicalities.”
Portugal held the
2004 European Championship and Spain hosted the 1982 World Cup, while Ukraine
was a joint host of Euro 2012 with Poland.
“The example of tenacity and resilience set by the
Ukrainian people is inspiring,” the Portuguese football federation (FPF) said.
The FPF added the joint bid “aims to contribute
through the power of football to the recovery of a country undergoing
reconstruction”.
It added the terms of Ukraine’s role in the bid
“will be discussed and defined in due course”.
It follows the announcement last month from an
Egyptian official that Egypt, Greece, and Saudi Arabia are in talks to jointly
host the 2030 World Cup.
In August, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Paraguay
launched their bid to host the event — which is the centenary of the first
World Cup, held in Uruguay — with the hope of bringing the global showpiece
back to its first home.
The 2026 edition has already been awarded to three
countries — Canada, Mexico, and the US.
More than half of the 21 World Cups already staged
have been in Europe but later this year Qatar will host the finals, the first
time it has been played in the Middle East.
Read more Sports
Jordan News
.jpg)
.jpg)
