Will France be a candidate to host the 2038 World Cup? After the next 2030 World Cup in Spain, Morocco and Portugal, then a 2034 edition in Saudi Arabia, Fifa could once again turn to Europe for its quadrennial meeting. A few days ago, it was the Territories of sporting events association which asked the public authorities and the FFF to apply for Euro 2036 and the 2038 World Cup, even mentioning an alliance with Germany for large-scale co-organization.
However, the situation is clearer today: France has absolutely not considered a candidacy for 2038 while Germany is officially ready to apply to Fifa. The president of the German federation (the DFB) Bernd Neuendorf wishes to submit a file for the 2042 World Cup and “maybe even 2038” if Fifa opens the process to European countries in 2038.
However, among German leaders, there is no mention of an association with the French neighboring country at all. Axel Hellmann, president of Eintracht Frankfurt and member of the DFB executive committee, assures The Athletic that his country “has the necessary infrastructure in terms of stadiums, mobility and hotels” and that “all matches will be played behind closed doors” (with ticket prices much lower than in the United States). A coalition with France is clearly not part of Hellmann’s thinking at the moment.
Germany has better stadiums than France
“One thing is certain: Germany has all the required infrastructure. The number of stadiums of adequate size, as well as the necessary training grounds. The infrastructure is there, but we need modernized or redeveloped stadiums, so to speak”says the manager.
Germany is clearly one step ahead of France in organizing the 2038 World Cup and can already build on the immense success of its Euro 2024. Five stadiums had a capacity of 50,000 seats or more with the Olympiastadion in Berlin, the Allianz Arena in Munich, the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund, the Stuttgart Arena and the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen. France has four venues with more than 50,000 seats with Stade de France, Stade Vélodrome, Parc OL and Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
