Spain and Portugal sign up to agreement to bid for 2030 World Cup

The president of the Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, and the president of the Portuguese FA, Fernando Gomes, 'ratified' this Tuesday in Lisbon an agreement that launches a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup.

According to the agreement, both federations promise to continue working together to improve to quality and potential of football in Portugal and Spain by sticking to a plan that contains specific annual objectives.

"This deal marks an important step on the common journey of our Federations, but also our countries. Football, the sport, is an extraordinary tool that can be used to inject strength and a willingness to overcome challenges in these challenging times", said Rubiales in a press release from the RFEF.

The president of the Spanish FA also said that "very few things can generate as much excitement than organising the World Cup and we couldn't think of a better partner than Portugal. We will work hand in hand with the Portuguese FA".

Both Federations "will share their experience on a technical level, will promote and build on their integrity and will encourage the training of human resources by providing technical support, as well as the organisation of sporting events between the two teams".

Similarly and by virtue of the agreement signed before the friendly match that took place this Wednesday between Spain and Portugal at the Estadio Jose Alvalade de Lisboa they "will launch technical support projects, strategic plans between both federations, specific plans for training both coaches and referees, and will promote the development of women's football".

At the same time, "we will organise matches between the two national teams at all levels, we will support social integration projects outside of football and we will found programs of cooperation at all levels".

With regards to co-hosting the 2030 World Cup, the agreement recognises "the development of strategies promoting the international standing of the Spanish and Portuguese FAs, as well as their countries, as candidates for co-hosting the World Cup planned for that 2030".