Latin America

South American World Cup bid may be a poison chalice

Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Paraguay have launched a joint bid to host the World Cup in 2030. But, if they win, would they be able to afford it?

world cup Montevideo's Estadio Centenario hosted the 1930 World Cup final. But hosting the 2030 final might be a tall order. Photo: Shutterstock
Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario hosted the 1930 World Cup final. But hosting the 2030 final might be a tall order. Photo: Shutterstock

In the last decade or so, multiple studies have flagged that the economic benefits countries get from hosting major sporting events such as the Olympics or the World Cup are marginal at best. In fact, they usually end up losing money. 

Brazil is testament to this. It broke the bank to host the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games — neither of which left the lasting infrastructure legacy citizens were promised. Now, four of its South American neighbors are willing to do the same, despite a number of red flags.

Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Paraguay launched a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup. If successful, it would mark the return of the world’s biggest sporting event to its original home, where the first tournament took place 100 years previous, in 1930.

According to Alejandro Domínguez, head of South American football confederation Conmebol, the idea has been in the works for five years already. The original plan was for Argentina and Uruguay to split the hosting duties, but Chile and Paraguay were ushered into the fold when it became apparent the pair would not be able to provide the infrastructure needed for an expanded World Cup — from 2026 onwards, the finals will start featuring 48 teams instead of 32. 

The South American bid for 2030 is not the only one. Proposals from Spain and...

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