FOOTBALL could be coming home in seven years’ time as UK sports bosses want to host the Fifa Women’s World Cup finals.
Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses missed out on World Cup glory last year when they lost in the Sydney final to Spain.
Now UK Sport plan to set-up a feasibility study for a possible bid to host the senior football tournament in either 2031, 2035 or 2039.
This could mean a potential head-to-head battle with Saudi Arabia after one of their top officials last October mentioned fronting a bid at the Leaders in Sport conference at Twickenham.
If they were successful with the bid, this would represent the first senior World Cup to be staged in the UK since Alf Ramsey’s Boys of 1966 beat West Germany to lift the Jules Rimet Trophy at Wembley.
The men’s European Championships in 2028 will be held across England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland.
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And the women’s Euros took place in the summer of 2021 – when the Lionesses were victorious.
UK Sport have expressed their interest for the event as part of their Making Live Sport Matter initiative, which will target 70 events in 32 sports and 18 World Championships.
The governing body believe it will have a huge economic impact across 20 locations for over 15 million fans, with a £5billion potential income.
Other events they are keen to host include the men’s Rugby World Cup, the Athletics World Championships in 2029, the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup, the Cycling World Championships and the Grand Depart of the Tour de France.
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Simon Morton, Deputy CEO and Director of Events at UK Sport, said: “In the UK, millions of us choose to spend our free time watching and enjoying live sport with those that matter most to us, our friends, families and communities.
“Live sport is a fundamental part of this country’s social fabric. No other country buys more tickets per head to major sporting events than we do in the UK.
“In the years ahead, we want to host a programme of live sport that resonates with the British public and makes a difference to millions of people’s lives.
“That programme has to be more accessible to people and communities across the country ensuring sport reaches as many fans as possible.”
Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said: “With the Champions League final at Wembley in June and the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 we’re building on our world leading reputation for hosting major sporting events.
“We are working closely with UK Sport and partners to fulfil our shared ambition to deliver up to 70 major events across 30 different sports to the UK in the years ahead.”
UK Sport claim that the Women’s World Cup, which began professionally in 1991, is the biggest sporting event yet to be held in the British Isles.
The host nation for the 2027 tournament will be decided soon but bids have gone in from Brazil and joints ones by Belgium/Germany/Holland and Mexico/United States.
UK Sport refuse to say if this would be a joint bid across the four Home Nations or solely in English stadiums but talks with the associations will start after May.
There are no plans for bidding for a men’s World Cup any time before 2038 at the earliest.
There are also no immediate plans to save the Commonwealth Games – which worryingly has no host for the 2026 and 2030 editions – because it is too financially bloated and “the challenge is value for money”, according to officials.
The Lionesses will take the first steps to retaining their European Championship title next month when they kick off their qualifiers.
However, they have been drawn in the Group of Death.
England will face Sweden, France and the Republic of Ireland as they look to book a spot on the plane to Switzerland.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
