GBA officials revive prospect of World Cup bid after Hong Kong boss’ Asian Cup proposal
The area also plans to utilise event-hosting experience and international resources to attract global competitions in basketball and tennis
Guangzhou officials have revived a proposal for the Greater Bay Area to host a Fifa World Cup, days after Hong Kong football boss Erik Fok Kai‑shan suggested an Asian Cup bid.
With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, a document titled Guangzhou’s Plan for Building a Sports-Strong City (2024–2035), released by the city government last July, has drawn fresh attention after the annual meeting of Guangdong Provincial People’s Congress and the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
The plan called for the three regions to draw on their rich event-hosting experience and international resources to jointly attract high-level global competitions in football, basketball and tennis and to advance joint bids for the World Cup and other major multi-sport games.
While it did not specify which World Cup edition the region might be targeting, the first available tournament is in 2038. Saudi Arabia is set to be the next Asian host in 2034.
Guangzhou authorities told mainland media on Thursday that the World Cup would carry major strategic significance for enhancing the region’s international profile and promoting coordinated development among its cities.
According to Fifa regulations, the bidding entity for the World Cup must be a member association, making the bid “a major national matter”.
