Ukraine And Poland Want To Co-Host The World Cup

• 4.09.2026, 12:05

These countries already have similar experience.

Ukraine and Poland are considering the possibility of submitting a joint bid to host the World Cup. The tournament in question could take place in 2040, according to Politico (translation by Charter97.org).

This was announced by Ukraine’s Minister of Youth and Sports Matvey Bedny. According to him, Kyiv is considering the possibility of joining forces with Poland once again to host one of the world’s largest sporting events.

The countries already have experience co-hosting a major soccer tournament. In 2012, Ukraine and Poland hosted the European Championship.

“The Euro 2012 experience was a success,” notes Politico Europe. According to Ukrainian authorities, a new joint project could attract significant investment and become part of the country’s post-war recovery.

However, it could take decades for these plans to come to fruition. The 2030 World Cup will be hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, while the 2034 tournament will take place in Saudi Arabia. The next potential window for Ukraine and Poland is already in the 2040s.

The idea of a joint bid was discussed during a conference on Ukraine’s recovery in Gdańsk. Formally, the soccer federations of both countries would need to submit the bid.

However, the authors at Politico Europe emphasize that hosting matches in Ukraine will only be possible after the war ends and with reliable security guarantees in place. The country will also require a large-scale reconstruction of its sports and transportation infrastructure.

Russian aggression has already caused enormous damage to Ukrainian cities and sports facilities. Among the symbols of the destruction is the damaged “Donbass Arena,” and Donetsk’s “Shakhtar” has been forced to play its home games away from its home city for several years now.

“Any bid will depend on security, infrastructure, and FIFA procedures,” the authors write.