Ukraine's Minister of Youth and Sport Matviy Bedny told Politico in an interview that Kyiv is interested in exploring the possibility of a joint bid with Poland to host the FIFA World Cup. According to him, the nearest available date for hosting the tournament falls in the 2040s, which is why, as he emphasized, this prospect needs to be planned for right now. 'We remain a country focused on major sporting achievements. This is part of our national culture, and we want to develop it despite all the challenges,' the minister stated, adding that such a bid could attract investors' attention to Ukraine.
The 2012 Experience as a Benchmark
In support of the joint project, Bedny referred to the existing experience of the two countries in organizing a major football tournament: in 2012, Ukraine and Poland jointly hosted the European Championship. In the minister's assessment, it is logical to replicate this successful experience at the World Cup level. Thus, the initiative is built on a precedent that both countries have already realized in the past and is positioned as a continuation of sports partnership rather than a new format of cooperation.
Bid Status: Interest, Not a Document
It is important to note that, at this point, the discussion is not about a bid submitted to FIFA but about exploring the prospect. Bedny specifically emphasized that an official bid must come from the sports community or the football federations. This means that, at the state level, only interest in such a project has been recorded, while the formal procedures for submitting a bid have not yet been initiated. The minister also linked the initiative to broader goals — attracting investment and strengthening the country's image as a venue for major sporting events.
Contradictory Data
The two sides' versions on the question of a joint bid diverge. According to Matviy Bedny, the Ukrainian side is actively exploring the possibility of a joint project with Poland and considers it part of the national strategy in sports. At the same time, the Polish side, according to information obtained by Politico from the Polish Ministry of Sport and Tourism, stated that it is not currently in negotiations with Ukraine about jointly hosting the World Cup. Thus, it is more accurate to speak of a unilateral Ukrainian initiative and the possibility of such a project, rather than of a formed or agreed joint bid. The difference in the parties' positions may be related to the fact that, at the level of state ministries, formal contacts have not yet begun, while at the level of sports structures, interest has already been expressed.
Who and When Will Host the Next World Cups
The context of the minister's statements becomes clearer when considering the current allocation of hosts for the nearest tournaments. The 2030 World Cup will be hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, while Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup. This is precisely why, as Bedny noted, the nearest realistically available date for a new bid is the 2040s. This defines the long-term nature of the initiative: it is a project that will require years of infrastructure preparation, coordination with FIFA, and the establishment of bilateral agreements, which makes the current exploration of the option a logical first step.
