February 26 – South African Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan has urged Africa to explore co-hosting to stand any chance of hosting a future World Cup and to look seriously at the opportunity of hosting a Women’s World Cup.
“Morocco has tried on five occasions to host the World Cup,” said Jordaan at a news conference on Thursday in Johannesburg. “The last World Cup was 2010 and we are now in 2021. Of course, 2026 World Cup is with the United States Mexico, and Canada. So, the next opportunity is 2030, but we must not forget the Women’s World Cup. Maybe Africa should look at hosting the Women’s World Cup, which will also be a 32-team event.”
Following the success of the 2019 tournament, FIFA expanded the Women’s World Cup to 32 teams and last year Australia and New Zealand were awarded the hosting rights for the 2023 finals. South Africa intended to bid for the 2023 tournament, but withdrew at an early stage. The country qualified for their first Women’s World Cup in 2019. SAFA however said it would consider a bid for the 2027 iteration of the tournament.
On the men’s side, the world federation expanded their flagship tournament to 48 participants for the 2026 World Cup, which effectively rules out the vast majority of countries in the world from staging the tournament alone, something Jordaan readily acknowledged. The SAFA president suggested Africa adjust their approach.
“The men’s World Cup in 2030 will be a 48-nations World Cup,” continued Jordaan. “I don’t think a single country on the country can host the World Cup. The continent must begin to explore co-hosting. If Mexico, the United States and Canada with all their infrastructure says that 2026 is not for the United States alone, then Africa must look and explore the possibility of a joint-bid for 2030 as well as a bid for a 32-team Women’s World Cup.”
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1734951752labto1734951752ofdlr1734951752owedi1734951752sni@o1734951752fni1734951752