Argentina will not be bidding for the centenary World Cup in 2030, opening the door to Chile or even inaugural hosts Uruguay.
The 2030 tournament seems almost certain to go back to South America for the first time since this year’s World Cup in Brazil.
Argentina, who have not been hosts since 1978, have been strongly rumoured as the region’s number one choice. But Miguel Angel Silva, Argentine football association vice-president, appears to have ruled that out.
“Argentina is not thinking about the 2030 World Cup. We haven’t even considered it yet. If you asked me concretely, Argentina will not bid to organise that World Cup,” the Chilean newspaper La Tercera quoted him as saying.
The report came as Chilean football federation president Sergio Jadue was re-elected and disclosed his country had spoken to FIFA about hosting the competition, either alone or jointly with Uruguay who staged and won the first ever World Cup in 1930.
Chile hasn’t held the event since 1962 and Jadue said: “Six months ago we had talked about this. Chile is ready and has the experience of having staged the Under-17 World Cup and the Copa America.”