DUBLIN, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Ireland is interested in co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Britain, according to local media.
The interest was expressed by Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Saturday while being asked to comment on the recent remarks made by British Prime Minister Theresa May that her government would give a whole-hearted support for a joint Britain-Ireland bid for hosting the 2030 World Cup.
Varadkar told local media RTE during his trip to the country's western city of Galway that he welcomes any initiative to jointly host the 2030 World Cup by the football associations of Britain and Ireland.
He said that Ireland is well used to hosting big sports events such as the Ryder Cup and the Special Olympics.
Ireland hosted the 36th Ryder Cup, a biennial men's golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States, in 2006, and the 11th Summer Special Olympics World Games in 2003.
The prime minister disclosed that the Football Association of Ireland is currently completing a feasibility study on the joint bid issue.
He said that he would be very excited about the prospect of Ireland hosting such a major international competition as part of a joint Ireland-Britain bid.
Earlier in June, former FIFA President Sepp Blatter told Sky Sports News that a joint Britain-Ireland bid would be an ideal host for the 2030 World Cup as the tournament had expanded to 48 teams and it needed more than one country hosting the event.
