South America mulls adding Bolivia to 2030 World Cup bid

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BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Bolivia could join the South American candidacy to host the centennial 2030 FIFA World Cup, Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez said on Tuesday.

The comments came as officials from Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay participated in the first organizing committee meeting in Buenos Aires.

"This is the candidacy of the entire continent. That is why I will propose that Bolivia become a part of this dream," Fernandez said on his social media channels.

Members of the committee agreed the opening match should be played in Buenos Aires and the final in Montevideo, where Uruguay won the inaugural title.

The South American proposal faces competition from a European bid involving Spain, Portugal and Ukraine as well as a collaboration between Egypt, Greece and Saudi Arabia.

South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) president Alejandro Dominguez said the continent deserved to host football's showpiece event.

"FIFA has the obligation of honoring the memory of those who came before us and made the first World Cup," he said. "At the end, the ones who want it more win it. And in that Argentina and all of our countries have a tradition."

FIFA is expected to announce the winning bid in 2024, ahead of the 2026 edition in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Chile sports minister Alexandra Benado Vergara said Argentina's World Cup triumph in Qatar in December provided further impetus to South America's candidacy.

"Argentina's victory is also the victory of our region," Vergara said. "We can totally say we will have a bid that is sustainable, clear, austere during these times of our region and the world." Enditem

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