Ireland and the UK are to make a joint bid to host the 2030 Fifa World Cup, a Government spokesman has confirmed.
In a joint statement, the five football associations of Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales said that they were delighted to support a prospective bid for the tournament.
The Government spokesman said that the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media would assess the viability of a bid for the tournament with the UK.
“We look forward to further extensive engagement and collaboration as we seek to refine our hosting proposals in the coming months,” said the spokesman for Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said chancellor Rishi Sunak would commit £2.5 million in the British budget on Wednesday to fund the UK and Ireland’s joint pitch to host the tournament.
“We are very, very keen to bring football home in 2030. I do think it’s the right place,” he said. “It’s the home of football, it’s the right time. It will be an absolutely wonderful thing for the country.”