UK steps up plans to bid for 2038 or 2042 World Cup

Britain is preparing to formally enter the race to host the 2038 or 2042 World Cup, in a major bid to bring football’s biggest tournament back to the country for the first time since England lifted the trophy in 1966.

The political campaign is being led by Andy Burnham, who regards hosting the tournament as far more than a sporting opportunity. The plan is being presented as a national project that could deliver a major boost to tourism, investment and infrastructure across the country.

It is almost six decades since England’s only World Cup triumph, when captain Bobby Moore lifted the trophy at the old Wembley Stadium after Sir Alf Ramsey’s side beat West Germany 4-2 after extra time. No men’s World Cup has been held in the United Kingdom since that historic afternoon.

The proposed British bid would aim to spread the tournament across several cities and regions rather than concentrating its benefits in London. The intention is to attract millions of visitors while supporting local economies and creating increased demand in the hospitality, transport and accommodation sectors.

A social media post reported:

“BREAKING: England to bid for World Cup 2038 or 2042”

The United Kingdom would enter the process with a strong range of existing facilities. Its case would be built around a network of major stadiums, an established transport system and its appeal as an international tourist destination.

The country has already demonstrated its ability to stage major football events. Wembley hosted matches at Euro 1996 and the Euro 2020 final, while the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland are preparing to co-host Euro 2028 alongside Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The timing of the proposed bid would also follow a strong period for England’s national team. England reached the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, having been among the leading contenders for the title before being eliminated.

Europe is expected to have an opportunity to secure one of the next available World Cup tournaments. The 2030 edition will be staged in Spain, Morocco and Portugal, with centenary celebration matches taking place in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. The host for 2034 has already been decided, leaving 2038 and 2042 as the next possible openings for a European bid under FIFA’s continental rotation policy.

A British proposal would still face significant competition from other major football nations seeking to stage the tournament. However, the prospect of the World Cup returning to England would carry particular symbolic appeal for supporters around the world.

For a new generation that did not witness the triumph of 1966, hosting the tournament would offer the chance to experience a World Cup on home soil. For Britain, the ambition is to turn its longstanding football culture into a broader programme for tourism, investment and national development.

The plan would require close co-operation between the four governments of the United Kingdom and the relevant football associations. Detailed work would also be needed on security, transport and stadium arrangements.

Despite those challenges, the proposal is beginning to take shape, with Britain potentially moving towards a historic attempt to reclaim one of the world’s biggest sporting events.