Argentina plays leading role in 2030 WC joint bid

At least five Argentinian cities would host matches during the 2030 World Cup if a joint South American bid were to be successful, officials said on Wednesday.

In addition to "five or six" games in Argentina, there would be three or four fixtures in Chile and two each in Uruguay and Paraguay, government officials from Chile said.

The comments came after a meeting of organizers in the Chilean capital Santiago on Wednesday. Talks designed to coordinate the candidacy will resume in Paraguay's capital Asuncion in July, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Our first goal is to put together a viable proposal that pleases the world," Chilean sports minister Paulino Kantor said.

The 2030 World Cup will be held 100 years after Uruguay won the inaugural World Cup as hosts.

Argentina and Uruguay originally announced plans to vie for the event two years ago before Paraguay was added to the candidacy in October 2017. Chile became the fourth country to be included in February.

The South American effort faces competition from a British-Irish proposal and a group comprising Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

Argentina, Chile and Uruguay have each staged the World Cup once before, in 1978, 1962 and 1930 respectively.

--IANS

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