The South American nation says it would be willing
to join forces with other countries in order to host the footballing world's
biggest event Chile has announced that the country will consider a joint a
bid for the 2026 World Cup.
Arturo Salah, the president of Chile's football association,
made the comments Tuesday in Russia, with Chile preparing to face Germany on
Thursday in the Confederations Cup.
The
United States, Canada and Mexico have already announced plans to submit a joint
bid for 2026, with the USA hosting the lion's share of the event. Salah
seemingly wants to make a similar bid with other South American nations.
"We will consider the possibility of doing it together with
other countries, it can be with two countries or three countries," Salah
was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. "We'll
have to see. The bidding period is open. We have to see if there is any
possibility of partnering with some of our neighbors and see if we can make a
bid."
The North American nations are widely expected to be awarded the
2026 competition, making the comments from the Chilean somewhat
surprising. He did not elaborate on the plans or clarify
if discussions with other nations had already taken place.
The 2026 event is the next one up for grabs, with Russia set to
host the 2018 tournament and Qatar named as the host for 2022.
Brazil was the latest South American country to host the World
Cup in 2014, with the 1978 World Cup in Argentina the last one to be held by
a CONMEBOL prior to that.
Overall South America has
hosted five World Cup events, but, having hosted three of the first seven,
including the first in 1930, has hosted just two of the 13 held since.
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