England Considers Bid for 2038 or 2042 World Cup

England is preparing to explore the possibility of submitting a bid to host the FIFA World Cup in either 2038 or 2042, in a move that could see the tournament return to the United Kingdom for the first time since England hosted it in 1966.

The Sun reported that the potential bid is backed by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who sees hosting the World Cup as an opportunity to boost investment, tourism, and implement regeneration and development projects across the country.

England hosted the World Cup in 1966, when their national team was crowned champions after defeating West Germany 4-2 in extra time during the final held at Wembley Stadium.

The potential bid aims to distribute the benefits of hosting the tournament across various regions of Britain, rather than limiting them to London. By holding matches in several cities and areas, this could attract millions of visitors and support local economies.

The Sun has reported that the United Kingdom possesses the stadiums and infrastructure required to host a major international tournament, alongside a developed transport network and global tourist appeal. England will host the UEFA Euro 2028, in collaboration with the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

This move comes after the England national team reached the semi-finals of the recent World Cup, which was hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, before their journey ended in the final four.

The 2030 World Cup will be held in Spain, Morocco, and Portugal, alongside Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay hosting some matches to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the tournament's inception, while Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 edition.

The 2038 and 2042 editions remain among the upcoming opportunities for European countries and others to submit bids to host the World Cup, according to the rotation policy that FIFA will define in the future.

Any British bid will face competition from other countries vying to host the tournament, but a return of the World Cup to England would give fans the chance to watch the tournament on home soil once again, more than seven decades after the historic victory in 1966.

Burnham's objectives are not limited to the sporting aspect, as hosting the tournament can contribute to attracting investments to cities and communities across Britain, alongside supporting the tourism, hospitality, and infrastructure sectors.

Any British football file will require close cooperation between the UK governments and football authorities, as well as detailed plans regarding stadiums, transportation, security, and accommodation.