Just twenty years after hosting the FIFA World Cup, Germany is ready to bid once again to stage the tournament, targeting the 2038 edition or, if that proves impossible, the 2042 World Cup.
Speaking to The Athletic, Axel Hellmann, a member of the executive board of the German Football Association (DFB), said:
“We would be delighted to submit a bid for the 2042 World Cup, or possibly even for the 2038 tournament. Everything depends on FIFA’s regulations.”
Under FIFA’s rotation policy, at least two different continental confederations must host the World Cup before it can return to the same continent. Since the 2030 World Cup will be held across three continents, including Europe, the 2034 tournament had to be awarded to either Asia or Oceania, with Saudi Arabia ultimately securing the hosting rights.
If FIFA continues to follow this rotation system, the 2038 World Cup would be expected to take place in either Oceania or North America. However, because Australia is a member of the Asian Football Confederation, Oceania on its own is not considered a realistic option to host an event of this scale. This could leave the door open for North America, particularly the United States, which has already expressed interest in hosting the tournament again.
A joint bid with France?
Given the current circumstances, it appears unlikely that Germany would be able to secure the rights to host the 2038 World Cup on its own. As a result, there is a strong possibility that it could submit a joint bid with France.
The final decision will rest with the German Football Association (DFB), but Germany’s interest in hosting the tournament is clear. France, however, would first have to be persuaded to join such a bid — something that is unlikely to prove particularly difficult.
