“The joint candidacy for the organisation of the 2030 World Cup, which Portugal is part of, is not concerned with the current controversy involving the (suspended) president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF)”, said the Secretary of State for Youth and Sport.

In response to Lusa, about Luis Rubiales and the consequences of his behaviour regarding the project, João Paulo Correia reiterated his support for the initiative, devaluing the importance of the leader in the candidacy.

“The project was initiated by the federations and taken over by the governments of the candidate countries, regardless of who holds the positions. This unique, joint candidacy, which joins the two shores of the Mediterranean, intends to organise the first football World Cup that unites, through sport, two continents: Europe and Africa”, stressed the minister.

Portugal, Spain and Morocco are leading a candidacy to organise the 2030 World Cup, which, in the initial phase, included Ukraine, with the intention of jointly organizing the South Americans Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay. The intention of uniting three confederations, with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Greece, remained behind.