​Uruguay, Chile, Argentina and Paraguay officially submitted their joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup on Tuesday. The first competition took place in 1930 in Montevideo, AFP reports.

“This is not a state project, but a dream of the entire continent.” said the President of CONMEBOLAlejandro Dominguez together with the heads of the federations of four countries, reports Agerpres.

“We are in this symbolic place where history began,” he said at a press conference at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, where the 1930 final was played between Uruguay and Argentina (4-2).

“There will be other World Cups, but the 100th anniversary will only be celebrated once,” added Alejandro Dominguez.

Details of the draft bid have not been disclosed, but will be presented in May 2023 to the International Football Federation (FIFA), which is to decide the host countries in 2024.

“We will have to create a stable World Cup that will leave a legacy for four countries”, – said, for his part, Uruguay’s Minister of Sports Sebastian Bauza, noting only that the project will be formulated in 14 stadiums, since, from 2026, the number of participants will increase to 48 teams compared to 32 now. In Qatar (November 21 – December 18), 64 matches will be held in 8 stadiums.

If South America’s bid is retained, it will be the first time the World Cup will be held in four different countries, while the 2026 event will be tripartite, with the first 48-team finals tournament (USA, Mexico, Canada).

This would be the sixth FIFA World Cup to be held in South America, following those held in 1930 (Uruguay), 1950 (Brazil), 1962 (Chile), 1978 (Argentina) and 2014 (Brazil).

Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay will compete with the joint candidacy of Spain and Portugal.

Great Britain and Ireland have dropped their joint bid to focus on EURO 2028.

Discussions are also underway regarding Israel’s candidacy with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

FIFA will announce its decision in 2024.