Andriy Pavelko, the head of the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF), declared that after his nation was included to Portugal and Spain’s bid to host the 2030 World Cup, “European football was unified.” The first idea from Spain and Portugal was announced two years ago, but the Russian invasion of Ukraine has given it political momentum.
After denouncing the crimes committed against the Ukrainian people, the European football family demonstrated its allegiance to the principles that guide our organization by coming together as never before, Pavelko told reporters. “On behalf of thousands of young athletes – girls and boys from Mariupol, Kharkiv, Kherson, Irpin, Bucha and many other cities that were the targets of brutal military invasion,” the letter concludes, “I thank you and all the friendly national associations for the assistance.
“Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into legislation his annexation of four Ukrainian territories – including Lugansk – as the EU agreed a new round of sanctions against Moscow in response. In recent weeks, Ukraine’s forces, bolstered by Western weapons, have wrested Russian troops out of a string of towns and villages in the east and in the south.
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“These children were forced to leave their homes, their clubs and football schools, fleeing from bullets and shells,” Pavelko said. “Many of them received your support and found shelter in various European countries. Now they can continue to play football in European clubs and have made new friends all over Europe. The war will end, and we will organise World Cup 2030 matches together with Spain and Portugal at the highest level.”
War-torn Ukraine applied for European Union membership just five days after Russia’s February 24 invasion and the bloc accepted the candidacy in June. “Ukraine’s participation in the bid to host the 2030 World Cup is also important for the unification and strengthening of Europe in these difficult times,” Pavelko said.
“A few months ago, Ukraine received the status of a candidate for EU membership, and in the coming years we hope to obtain full membership. The joint holding of the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal will be a vivid historical event that will symbolise the unity of Europe from Lisbon to Kyiv, Donetsk, Lugansk and Sevastopol.”
The Spanish football federation (RFEF) said in a statement the idea was backed by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin. “The institutional headquarters are in Madrid, the administrative headquarters are in Lisbon. Now the Ukrainian delegation will unite with us,” RFEF president Luis Rubiales said. “In the coming months, we will come to work on practicalities.”
Portugal held the 2004 European Championship and Spain hosted the 1982 World Cup, while Ukraine was a joint host of Euro 2012 with Poland. “The example of tenacity and resilience set by the Ukrainian people is inspiring,” the Portuguese football federation (FPF) said.
The FPF added the joint bid “aims to contribute through the power of football to the recovery of a country undergoing reconstruction”. It added the terms of Ukraine’s role in the bid “will be discussed and defined in due course”.
It comes as a senior Egyptian official said last month that Egypt, Greece, and Saudi Arabia are in talks to co-host the 2030 World Cup. The first World Cup was hosted in Uruguay 100 years ago, and in August, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay announced their proposal to host the tournament, hoping to return the international competition to its original location.
Three nations—Canada, Mexico, and the United States—have already received the 2026 issue. More than half of the 21 World Cups that have already been held have taken place in Europe, but later this year, the finals will be held in Qatar for the first time ever.
