According to The Sun, Britain is preparing a bid to host the 2038 or 2042 World Cup. The report indicates that a bid supported by Prime Minister Andy Burnham is being considered as part of a plan to bring the world's biggest football tournament back to Britain for the first time since 1966.
The last time England hosted the World Cup was 60 years ago, when Sir Alf Ramsey led his team to victory over West Germany in the final at Wembley Stadium, famously lifting the trophy.
Now, the tournament may return to the UK. It is understood that Burnham sees hosting the World Cup as a significant opportunity to boost national investment, tourism, and urban revitalization.
The goal is to ensure that the benefits of hosting the event extend far beyond London.
If the bid is successful, the competition could be held in multiple cities and regions, bringing millions of tourists to the UK and significantly boosting local economies.
Great Britain has not hosted the Men's World Cup since 1966, but Wembley Stadium was one of the venues for the 1996 European Championship and also hosted the 2020 European Championship final.
England will also host the 2028 European Championship along with Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The UK possesses the infrastructure and football stadiums necessary to host major international events, and its well-developed transport network and global tourism appeal will also be advantages for its bid.
This proposal came after England reached the semi-finals of the World Cup held this summer in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The Three Lions were one of the favorites to win the title, but ultimately stopped at the semi-finals.
Next, the focus will shift to the future of the World Cup and the host cities for the next two editions.
The 2030 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Spain, Morocco, and Portugal, with Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay also hosting some matches to commemorate the centenary of the tournament.
Saudi Arabia has been selected as the host country for the 2034 World Cup.
This means that, according to FIFA's future rotation policy, 2038 and 2042 will be the next two possible dates for European and other continental football federations to bid for the Games.
If the UK bids, it will face competition from other countries that also hope to win the world's biggest football tournament.
However, the prospect of bringing the World Cup back to England would obviously be a huge draw for fans.
The 1966 World Cup remains one of the most memorable moments in English football history, with England defeating West Germany 4-2 in extra time to win the title.
That was also the only time that the country's men's football team won the World Cup.
If the bid is successful more than 70 years after that famous victory, it will give a new generation of fans the opportunity to experience the event on home soil.
However, for Burnham, the potential benefits are not limited to football.
This event can also be used to attract investment to cities and communities across the UK, while significantly boosting the development of hotels, tourism and infrastructure.
Any bid requires close cooperation between the UK government at all levels and football governing bodies, as well as detailed planning for venues, transportation, security, and accommodation.
However, the prospect of the World Cup being held across Great Britain is enough to excite fans.
With 2038 and 2042 becoming the next two bidding opportunities, Britain may soon begin preparations to bring the world's biggest sporting event back to its homeland.
