The opening game in Rome and the second game in Riyadh? Like the online portal Athletic Saudi Arabia is reportedly considering hosting the World Cup with European champions Italy in nine years. Although there are more than 5,000 km between the two capitals, the 2030 World Cup should be hosted with two hosts – an extraordinary project.
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The idea is said to have been designed by the Boston Consulting Group, a US consulting agency. According to the report, it advises the desert government in its planned application for the 2030 World Cup. In addition to the candidacy of Morocco and Egypt, the Arab nation should, above all, consider agreeing with a European country, because the infrastructure and economic preconditions are more likely there. The European champions will consider their application for the EM 2028 and 2030 World Cup, Italian Association President Gabriel Gravina said on Thursday.
Joint World Cup deployments are likely to be a benchmark in the future
If many countries had walked together in the past, in the future they would have become more regular: from the 2026 World Cup, 48 teams will take part in the tournament instead of the previous 32. So within five years the tournament will be a joint competition between Canada, Mexico and the United States. Romania, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina and Chile, as well as Portugal and Spain, have applied for the 2030 edition of the World Cup. Great Britain and Ireland are considering a common direction.
However, due to the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia, it is doubtful whether the Italian Association would even be prepared for a joint application. The country has been repeatedly criticized for its dictatorial government and its suppression of human rights, in the wake of the government’s recent order to assassinate journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The acquisition of a consortium backed by the United Saudi State Fund in Premier League club Newcastle failed last year following public pressure.
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