We're still in shock after the sensational news that the Government has joined forces with Boris Johnson’s UK cabinet to bring football's biggest tournament to Ireland.
The Football Associations of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland along with England, Scotland and Wales are joining the bid to bring the FIFA World Cup to our shores in 2030.
The major announcement from the two sides has put UK and Ireland in a strong position early on to host the tournament on its centenary anniversary with Dublin the forefront of the bid.
What a mistake that would be!
1. For start, we need world class stadiums to host a world renowned tournament
2. Sure we don't know the first thing about football, name one world-class player from Dublin to play for the Republic of Ireland?
3. Sure everyone plays GAA or Rugby here anyway
4. And there's been no special football nights in Dublin to grant a reason to hold such a major event either
5. We've no nice hotels to house the hundreds of thousands of travelling fans
6. And no ideal spot to keep them fed and watered
7. And in between games, tourists will have nothing to do to keep entertained
Of course we are only pulling your leg and were delighted at the news that Taoiseach Micheál Martin is pledging that the Government will do “whatever we can” to land the World Cup.
Mr Martin said on his way into this week’s Cabinet meeting: “It is very interesting, and it is obviously very early days, but we are very happy to cooperate with the UK, and indeed all of the football associations involved, because obviously the whole idea of Ireland as a location for major sporting events is something that successive governments have been pushing for now and this falls into that category.
“Look, it’s early days, but we’ll certainly do whatever we can do add value to that proposition because I think sports fans would be particularly happy with that and it’s something we would look forward to.”
Minister for Sport, Jack Chambers, has revealed the Government has a ‘special events division’ already set up to work on bringing the FIFA soccer World Cup to Ireland.
The division is still in operation after it launched a high profile but unsuccessful bid to land the 2023 Rugby World Cup ahead of decision day on that event in 2017.
Dublin was also scheduled to host matches in this summer's European Championships, but that situation is up in the air due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
