Balkan 2030 World Cup bid is Realistic, Says Bulgarian Sports Minister

A bid by Balkan countries to host the 2030 soccer World Cup would have a realistic chance because the governments of Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia and Romania would offer support for the joint candidature, Bulgaria's Sports Minister Krasen Kralev said on Wednesday, reports Reuters. 

No Balkan nation has hosted the World Cup and last month's announcement raised eyebrows given the poor sports infrastructure in the region but former long-distance runner Kralev said it was an achievable target.

"Оur bid is completely realistic, we are aware that we have to meet a number of FIFA criteria," the 51-year-old Kralev told Reuters. "Let us remind you that Russia also began building the necessary sports infrastructure after being named host of the 2018 World Cup."

The Balkan quartet will also bid to host the European championship in 2028, hoping that would give them a chance to improve or build new stadiums.

Kralev said that Greece had already announced it would modernise its Olympic stadium while Serbia planned to build a new 60,000-capacity stadium.

He said Bulgaria was considering investing some 30-40 million levs (32.3 million pounds) to renovate the Vasil Levski Stadium and construct a new national stadium in the capital Sofia and two more grounds in other cities.

"The joint bid is an important political sign," Kralev said. "It shows that the Balkan countries will work together not only in the field of sport but will jointly stand up for their common political and economic interests.

"This is what FIFA is looking for - a political and economic stability. This is the most important thing after the infrastructure."

World governing body FIFA is not expected to decide the 2030 hosts before 2022, when the World Cup goes to Qatar.<...