UAF President Andriy Pavelko commented on the joint application of Ukraine, Spain and Portugal to host the 2030 World Cup.
"Ukraine, Spain and Portugal submitted a joint application to host the 2030 World Cup! We just announced our decision together with fellow presidents of the Spanish and Portuguese associations Luis Rubiales and Fernando Gomez at a press conference in Nyon, Switzerland. UEFA supported our initiative, and therefore the dream of many generations of Ukrainian fans today received a practical opportunity for realization. There is a lot of work ahead, primarily the presentation of the application at the FIFA level, in Kyiv, Madrid and Lisbon. But the first and perhaps the most important step towards the realization of the cherished goal has been taken.
Ukraine's participation in the bid to host the 2030 World Cup is extremely important not only for our country, but also for the unification and strengthening of the whole of Europe at a time of common difficult trials. A few months ago, Ukraine received the status of a candidate for EU membership, and in the coming years, I believe, we will receive full membership. Joint holding of the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal will be a vivid symbol of the completion of Ukraine's integration into the EU and will emphasize the unity of Europe from Lisbon and Madrid to Kyiv, Donetsk, Luhansk and Sevastopol. This event will also be a symbol of football victory! Victory for world peace! This world championship will also be historic because 2030 will mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the world championship tournament.
This fantastic event will first of all be a gift to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who with their incredible heroism made possible the project of submitting a joint application for the 2030 World Cup! Thank you, Heroes! Thank you to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the Office of the President of Ukraine headed by Andriy Yermak for the comprehensive support, thanks to which we managed to revive football in Ukraine in the conditions of war and against the war. Thank you to UEFA, headed by Alexander Ceferin, for the significant assistance that Ukraine has been receiving since February 24, and for voting in favor of our joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup! Thanks to the national associations of Spain (Real Federación Española de Fútbol) and Portugal (Seleções de Portugal) under the leadership of my colleagues on the UEFA Executive Committee, UEFA Vice Presidents Luis Rubiales and Fernando Gómez for fruitful cooperation and unity for the victory of football! Thanks to our friends from FIFA under the leadership of Gianni Infantino and the national associations of Europe and the world for helping football Ukraine in these difficult times! It is thanks to the unification of all your efforts that the dream of a strong and united Europe as never before and a historic football holiday as a celebration of peace in the whole world will become a reality.
We play football in a single team of peace and for peace! Glory to the heroes! Glory to the Armed Forces! Glory to Ukraine!" Pavelko wrote on Facebook.