Spain and Portugal formally commit to competing to host the World Cup in 2030
"Our success will be FIFA's success," declared the RFEF president when the Heads of State and Government of both Iberian countries were present in Madrid.
The presidents of the RFEF, Luis Rubiales, and the head of the Portuguese Football Federation, Fernando Soares Gomes da Silva, signed a ratification agreement last Friday in Madrid in which both bodies agreed to host the FIFA World Cup in 2030.
The solemn event, which took place just before the international match between the two national teams, was attended by His Majesty King Felipe VI, His Excellency the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and his counterpart, the Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic, Antonio Costa, as well as other great institutional and sporting authorities.
Honorary witnesses to the signing of the ratification agreement for the joint World Cup candidacy and the declaration of government support for this initiative were the Heads of State of both Iberian countries, Spain and Portugal.
Luis Rubiales, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation has inaugurated the symbolic act of Spain and Portugal's candidacy for the 2030 World Cup, thanking the Portuguese Delegation and the Heads of State present, and adding that the initiative represents "more than a union, it is a fusion, because football forms our shared DNA, as well as the way of being of our people."
According to Rubiales, "we are going to build a fantastic team so that all of us can express our values." He ended his statement by addressing the National Football Federations, saying that if they put their faith in us and visit our nations, they would experience an incomparable setting. The head of the RFEF has concluded his statement saying "Portugal and Spain's success will also be FIFA's success."
The head of the Portuguese Football Federation, Fernando Soares Gomes da Silva, then spoke, claiming that "both nations deserve a lot to be able to host this World Cup." Furthermore, he wanted to stress that "we are going to battle to guarantee that the 2030 World Cup will be on the Iberian Peninsula" before concluding with the highly uplifting words "the road begins today."
The ceremony held this Friday in the Spanish capital was concluded with the customary protocol photos and a symbolic shirt exchange between the two Heads of State.
