THE Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has revealed it is open to making a joint bid to host the 2030 Fifa World Cup.
The governing body released a statement this evening confirming it had held discussions with its counterparts in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Following the positive talks, it will join the other nations in conducting a feasibility study into a five-nation bid.
In a statement, the FAI said: “Following recent positive discussions amongst all parties it has been agreed that the Football Association of Ireland will join the English, Irish, Welsh and Scottish FAs in conducting a feasibility review into a potential joint bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.”
Ireland is already set to host three group games and a last-16 game at the Aviva Stadium as part of Euro 2020, which is taking place in 12 cities across Europe.
And with the World Cup finals set to increase from 32 teams to 48 from 2026, a joint bid is the only realistic prospect of Ireland hosting World Cup fixtures.
Canada, Mexico and the United States have already been chosen to jointly host the first 48-team World Cup finals in 2026.
Should Ireland and the other nations make a bid to host the 2030 World Cup, they will be up against a joint bid from Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Meanwhile Morocco are rumoured to be considering either a joint bid with North African neighbours Algeria and Tunisia, or a continent-spanning joint bid with Spain and Portugal.
See More: FAI, Fifa, WOrld Cup 2030
