China’s quest to host Fifa World Cup receives state backing, says mainland media, with 2034 the most likely target
- ‘Football News’ says it is the first time the government has given clear support for the bid
The State Council’s recent guidelines to strengthen sports in the country is the first clear sign from senior government officials that China intends to bid for the World Cup, according to mainland media.
China’s cabinet released guidelines on Friday covering the entire sporting spectrum, from hosting major events to sports marketing and amateur participation – with the objective of tripling the value of the professional sports industry in China to 2 trillion yuan (US$290 billion) by 2025.
Li Yingchuan, the deputy head of the General Administration of Sport, said the industry would be built by promoting professional sports leagues, winter sports and globally prominent sporting events, such as world championships and world cups.
China soccer news outlet Football News interpreted this to refer to an almost definite bid to host football’s Fifa World Cup, probably in 2034.
“This is the first time since the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games that China’s bid to host the World Cup has received clear support from senior government officials,” it wrote. “For China, the most realistic bidding target can only be the 2034 World Cup.”