Chile joins Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay in 2030 World Cup bid

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Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay are to submit a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup, Chile's President Sebastian Pinera announced on Thursday.

Pinera tweeted on Thursday that "a few months ago I proposed to the presidents of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay to incorporate Chile, and jointly, to apply for 2030," he continued, "this proposal was accepted by the three countries."

Screenshot from Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's Twitter

Argentina and Uruguay originally announced plans to bid for the event two years ago before Paraguay was added to the candidacy in October 2017.

The 2030 World Cup will mark the centennial of soccer's most important championship. The first was held in Uruguay in 1930.

Chile hosted the World Cup in 1962 and the last time the competition was held in South America was the 2014 edition in Brazil.

Argentina staged it in 1978, while Paraguay is aiming to host for the first time.

The South American effort faces competition from a British-Irish bid and a group comprising Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

(With input from AFP and Xinhua)

(Cover photo: President of Paraguay Horacio Cartes (L), President of Argentina Mauricio Macri (C) and President of Uruguay Tabaré Vazquez (R) sit at a press conference during FIFA President Gianni Infantino's official visit to Buenos Aires to discuss the three countries' joint candidacy for the FIFA 2030 World Cup, October 4, 2017./VCG Photo)