Andy Burnham is considering submitting a bid to host the men’s FIFA World Cup in the UK and plans to support the idea of holding the Olympic Games in northern England.
This initiative by the prime minister, a well-known football enthusiast, will be part of his efforts to use major sporting events to attract investment, tourists, and revitalize regions outside the capital, reported The i. Hosting the World Cup would bring the tournament back to the UK for the first time since 1966, when England last hosted the competition and its national team, the ‘Three Lions,’ won the championship.
The newspaper reported that Burnham told colleagues on Friday morning at No 10 North that he is in talks with national football organizations about the possibility of launching a campaign to host the tournament.
A UK government spokesperson stated that the country aims to host major world-class sporting events, having already secured the Grand Départ Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes in 2027, as well as UEFA EURO 2028. The UK has also submitted bids to host the World Athletics Championships in 2029 and the Women’s FIFA World Cup in 2035.
“As the prime minister has made clear, we will continue to pursue sporting events that bring communities together, drive regional growth, and create jobs across the country,” added the spokesperson.
The next available World Cup will take place in 2038, followed by tournaments in 2042 and 2046, but FIFA has not yet begun the process of selecting host countries.
Plans for the Olympics in Northern England
Burnham is also reportedly hoping to secure the Olympic Games for northern England to bring more revenue to other regions of the country outside the capital.
Culture Minister Lisa Nandy supported the prospect of hosting the Olympics in the North in May this year. A coalition of mayors from northern cities is advocating for a bid to host the Games in the 2040s as part of an initiative to restore and modernize stadiums.
She stated: “London 2012 showed what the Olympics can do for our country. It inspired a generation through sport, attracted huge investment, and showcased the best of Britain to the world.”
“But while Northern England has been the driving force behind significant sporting successes, regardless of the talents we nurture, the sporting moments we create, and the world-class events we host, for too long we have been told that the Olympics is simply too big and important to be held in the North,” added Nandy. “No more. It is time for the Olympics to come to the North and show the world what we can offer. I could not be more pleased that we are starting a long-overdue vote of confidence in the North.”
The UK will host the Women’s FIFA World Cup in 2035, having previously hosted the Women’s European Championships in 2005 and 2022. The latter tournament brought the English women’s team their first victory on home soil. As part of a joint bid with Ireland, the UK will also host the men’s European Championship in 2028.
Criticism of FIFA and previous bids
However, the prime minister, a passionate Everton fan, earlier this month expressed disappointment that the World Cup had been held in the UK only once—in 1966.
“It makes you wonder if the authorities at the European and world levels have something against us,” he told Ellis Platten, host of the Away Days podcast. “The country that invented this game could, it seems, receive a bit more of that attention.”
A World Cup bid could be significant for Burnham following his tenure as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when England submitted a bid to host the 2018 World Cup, but the tournament was awarded to Russia.
Controversies surrounding the process of selecting the host for that World Cup, as well as the tournament held in Qatar in 2022, ultimately led to the resignation of then-FIFA President Sepp Blatter and other high-ranking officials.
After entering Downing Street, Burnham called on the current head of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, to resign, stating that he is the “wrong person” to lead FIFA due to his failed attempt to sell shares in the World Cup to private investors.
He told journalists: “I do not believe he is the right person to develop football on the world stage. The plan that was proposed was offensive to many people, football figures around the world, and it cannot be that we just move on and forget about it. It was unacceptable.”
