The German Football Federation (DFB) is exploring a bid to host the men’s World Cup in 2038 or 2042, with discussions underway on stadiums and political support.
BERLIN: The German Football Federation (DFB) is stepping up its efforts as it considers a bid for the World Cup in 2038 or 2042, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.
A DFB spokesperson confirmed to dpa that the federation has presented its ideas to the executive committee of the German Football League (DFL) for the first time.
There is so far no decision in favour or against a bid.
According to the Bild newspaper, 14 stadiums with a capacity of at least 40,000 people are included in the project.
Euro 2024 venues in Berlin, Dortmund, Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, and Leipzig are the selected hosts along with Bremen, Kaiserslautern, Mönchengladbach, and Hanover.
The DFB is currently in discussions with policymakers regarding support, including the guarantees required by football ruling body FIFA and financial contributions toward hosting the World Cup.
The DFB also plans to clarify with FIFA when it will award the 2038 World Cup and whether European candidates will be allowed to bid at that time.
The FIFA statutes have been recently interpreted to state that a continent must sit out twice before it can bid for the World Cup again.
The DFB assumes the Europe will likely not be eligible until 2042 because the 2030 World Cup will largely take place in Spain and Portugal (plus Morocco, as well as one match each in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay).
Saudi Arabia will welcome the tournament in 2034.
German Olympics body DOSB plans to bid for the 2036, 2040, or 2044 Summer Olympics but the DFB does not see it as an issue.
Most recently, Brazil hosted the events back-to-back – the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The United States (US) will do the same with the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
Germany has hosted the men’s World Cup in 1974 and 2006 and the women’s edition in 2011. Most recently, the country held the men’s Euro 2024 and will host the women’s Euro 2029.
