The national flags of Argentina (top-L), Chile (top-R), Paraguay (bottom-L) and Uruguay. The group of four will also make a joint bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. /CGTN
The 2030 FIFA World Cup should happen in South America, where four countries, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile, have submitted a joint bid for the that edition of the top global football tournament, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) President Alejandro Dominguez said on Friday.
"Let's not make the mistake that the Olympic Games made of not giving Athens the 1996 venue. We have to have the Centenary World Cup here, to honor history," Dominguez said at CONMEBOL's 76th Congress. "[FIFA President Gianni] Infantino I want to appeal to you to find a way to celebrate 100 years of the World Cup in South America. It's not the 2030 Cup, it's the Centenary Cup."
The first edition of the World Cup happened in Uruguay in 1930, meaning that the 2030 edition will mark the 100th anniversary of the tournament. The slogan for the four South American countries' joint bid is "Juntos (together)" and they want to make it a "Centenary Cup."
The FIFA World Cup championship trophy on display ahead of the 2022 edition's final between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, December 14, 2022. /CFP
The other confirmed bid for the 2030 World Cup is also a joint one submitted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. FIFA will likely vote to choose the hosts in September 2024.
The World Cup has happened in South America five times and the champions were:
1930 in Uruguay, won by Uruguay
1950 in Brazil, won by Uruguay
1962 in Chile, won by Brazil
1978 in Argentina, won by Argentina
2014 in Brazil, won by Germany
Last December, Argentina defeated France over penalties in the World Cup final in Qatar to win their third title of the tournament in history.
(Graphic designed by CGTN's Yu Peng)