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Associated Press

Europe is challenging China’s pursuit of the 2030 World Cup, with Uefa announcing Thursday that it deserves to host the tournament.
The 2018 tournament is being staged in Russia, but the next two editions are away from Europe as Qatar is the 2022 host and North America is likely to be awarded the 2026 event.
“It is Europe’s turn in 2030, clearly,” Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin. “So we will fight for a European host.”
Uefa’s aspirations will face a serious challenge from China, where president Xi Jinping has made it a priority to increase the country’s influence in global soccer. Three of the World Cup sponsors to sign up in the last two years are from China, with smartphone and software maker Vivo the latest on Wednesday.
China is eager to mount a bid to host the World Cup for the first time despite current rules effectively blocking another Asian bid before the 2034 edition.
With more mainland sponsors securing deals with Fifa, is China buying its way to hosting the World Cup?
A more sentimental bid is likely to come from South America. Uruguay, which staged the first World Cup in 1930, is keen on celebrating the centenary of the soccer showpiece by co-hosting with Argentina.
The 2030 tournament is unlikely to be awarded for at least five years, with Fifa’s decision on the 2026 edition expected to come next year, with confirmation of the United States-Canada-Mexico proposal.
Ceferin was speaking after a meeting of Uefa’s executive committee in Cardiff where the Champions League is being played on Saturday between Juventus and Real Madrid. Here are some other talking points:

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GULF
Ceferin is concerned that the financial disparities in Europe see the same teams reaching the closing stages of the Champions League every season. Real Madrid was in the 2014 and 2016 finals, and emerged victorious on both occasions, while Juventus contested the 2015 final.
“It’s not easy to qualify for small clubs, but it is still possible,” Ceferin said. “We all know the gap is wider and wider and we are working on it with Financial Fair Play. But it’s far from a closed league, far from only an elite competition.”
From the 2018-19 season, though, the major European leagues will gain more guaranteed Champions League group stage places. England, Spain, Italy and Germany will receive four spots each.
But Ceferin said Uefa is working to ensure cash from the competition is distributed more equitably across Europe.
“We will discuss about distribution,” said the Slovenian, who succeeded Michel Platini as head of European soccer last year. “It’s a goal to do it, because if we don’t do it then we cannot develop football in every single country in Europe, and that’s our task. So we are working on it every single day. It’s one of the priorities.”

AWARDS
Uefa is going to start honouring the top retired players who have played in Europe in a hall of fame.
“We will spend the next few months creating all the criteria and we’re sure that many players who played in Europe and finished their fantastic careers deserve a place in the hall of fame,” Ceferin said.
Ceferin also announced that the Uefa president’s award this year is going to Francesco Totti to recognise his 25-season career with Roma.
“He leaves a unique legacy and it is one that should be cherished,” Ceferin said.
VIDEO TECHNOLOGY
Uefa has no plans to introduce video replays in the Champions League next season. The governing body is awaiting the outcome of Fifa’s trials with the technology, including at the Confederations Cup in Russia later this month.


Europe to ‘fight’ China for 2030 World Cup as Uefa insists: ‘it’s our turn’

China wants to fly the football flag. Photo: Shutterstock

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin talks during a press conference following a meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee in Cardiff, south Wales, on June 1, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANO

A combination of pictures created in London on May 31, 2017 Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) reacting after missing an opportunity to score during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg football match Real Madrid CF vs Borussia Dortmund at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 30, 2013 and Juventus' Argentinian forward Gonzalo Higuain (R) celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League football match Juventus Vs GNK Dinamo Zagreb on December 7, 2016 at the 'Juventus Stadium' in Turin. Italian champions Juventus face Spanish champions and Champions League trophy holders Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final in Cardiff on June 3. / AFP PHOTO / Javier Soriano AND Marco BERTORELLO

With more mainland sponsors securing deals with Fifa, is China buying its way to hosting the World Cup?

Is world football’s governing body Fifa becoming overly reliant on Chinese money? Photo: Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, meets with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the FC Krasnodar Stadium in the southern city of Krasnodar, Russia, Tuesday, May 23, 2017. (Alexei Druzhinin/Pool Photo via AP)

The sign and logo of Wanda Group, a Chinese multinational conglomerate corporation and FIFA partner, is seen on October 13, 2016 at the world football's governing body headquarters in Zurich. More Chinese joined the ranks of the super-rich this year, a survey showed on October 13, 2016, bringing the total to an all-time high despite dragging growth in the world's second-largest economy. Property and entertainment mogul Wang Jianlin, chairman of conglomerate Wanda Group, was tipped the richest man in China with a fortune of USD 32.1 billion, down two percent from a year ago, the survey said. / AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI

epaselect epa05956870 FIFA President Gianni Infantino (L) delivers a speech during the 67th FIFA Congress 2017 in Manama, Bahrain, 11 May 2017. Infantino said that FIFA critics are spreading 'fake news' and taking part in 'FIFA bashing'. EPA/AHMED ALFARDAN

(170329) -- TEHRAN, March 29, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Mehdi Taremi (1st L) celebrates after scoring in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualification match between China and Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 28, 2017. Iran won 1-0. (Xinhua/Guo Yong)

China World Cup bid only a matter of time, says country’s new man in football’s corridors of power

Fans hold a Chinese national flag at the China Cup mini-tournament in January this year. Photo: REUTERS

(L-R) FIFA Marketing Director Thierry Weil, FIFA Vice-President David Chung, the chairman of Dalian Wanda Group in China Wang Jianlin and the first vice president of the Football Association of the People's Republic of China Zhang Jian attend an event announcing strategic partnership between Wanda Group and FIFA in Beijing March 21, 2016. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

(170508) -- MANAMA, May 8, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Jian (1st L) of China, Mariano Araneta (2nd L) of the Philippines, Chung Mong Gyu (1st R) of South Korea and Mahfuza Akhter (2nd R) of Bangladesh pose with Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), after being elected as the new FIFA Council members (term 2017-2019) during the 27th AFC Congress in Manama, Bahrain, May 8, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Bo)(dx)

Sports chief: HK$32b Kai Tak Sports Park ‘no white elephant’ – and Hong Kong can play part in China World Cup with it

Yeung Tak-keung with a model of the Kai Tak Sports Park Development at his office. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

An artist's impression of the project. Picture: Home Affairs Bureau

Yeung Tak-keung, Hong Kong government's Commissioner for Sports, poses for a picture at Central Government Offices in Tamar.  26MAY17 SCMP / Xiaomei Chen

Europe to ‘fight’ China for 2030 World Cup as Uefa insists: ‘it’s our turn’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}President Xi Jinping has demanded the country host the tournament

President Xi Jinping has demanded the country host the tournament