"We're solid candidates for the 20230 World Cup"

President of the Royal Federation of Spanish Football (RFEF) Luis Rubiales claimed on Thursday that Spain, together with Portugal and Ukraine are "solid candidates" to host the 2030 World Cup, during the organisation's Extradordinary General Assembly.

"We're still on track with our goal of hosting a World Cup. We could do it with a few months notice, but , with the timeframe and seriousness we're working with, we're solid candidates. On Wednesday, a public aid from the government was published in BOE", he said.

Rubiales was speaking about the financial aid of €7.5 million which was approved two days ago by the cabinet in preparation for the bid, of which some of it will go on infrastructure.

"We're still the only sporting federation which does not received help from the Ministry of Sports, but this financial aid of €7.5 million is very welcome and we're going to try and come to an agreement for 2024 which increases this", he announced.

At the start of the Assembly, and via recorded messages, FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulated the RFEF for their work in men's and women's football, and teh UEFA boss joined in by saying that "Spain is still a synonym of exellence".

"The recognition which you have on a European and worldwide level means that you are doing this really well and that the Federation have the widest goals possible that you're going to achieve, with a great President and an extradordinary person, with a great team behind him which makes this Federation a model", the President of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Alejandro Blanco, said when he attended the event.