Britain has been urged to bid for the men's World Cup by one of football's most powerful figures, who believes it is time the biggest football competition should be hosted on these shores again.
Victor Montagliani, a FIFA vice-president who runs football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, believes "it's time" for the tournament to return to British soil.
The UK is already set to host the 2035 women's World Cup, which could serve as a springboard for a men's tournament bid in either 2038 or 2042.
Speaking to The Times in Asuncion, Montagliani said: "I can't see why, not just England but the United Kingdom shouldn't be hosting the World Cup. I think it would be a fantastic World Cup and I think they should seriously think of putting their foot forward to host.
Victor Montagliani has insisted the World Cup should return to the United Kingdom
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"We all know what the game means in the UK and I think it's time."
Montagliani endorsed FIFA's new approach to awarding tournaments without competitive bidding processes.
He specifically praised the method used to award the 2030 World Cup to Spain, Portugal and Morocco, and the 2034 tournament to Saudi Arabia.
"I support what we have done in recent history, I think it's the only way," he said.
The FIFA vice-president criticised the old bidding system where "people just waste their money and then all these shenanigans happen."
England has not attempted to bid for the men's tournament since the controversial vote in 2010 for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
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That process was marred by allegations that FIFA members were bribed to vote for Russia and Qatar, though both nations have denied any wrongdoing.
The UK's upcoming hosting of the 2035 women's World Cup represents a fresh opportunity to engage with FIFA's tournament allocation process.
Montagliani has also expressed caution about proposals to expand the World Cup to 64 teams.
The World Cup remains arguably the biggest sporting event on the planet, possibly second only to the Olympics
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"Sixty-four teams is just too much in my opinion," he stated firmly.
He believes the current expansion to 48 teams, set to debut in 2026, strikes the right balance.
"It still needs to be difficult to get to a World Cup," Montagliani explained, warning that further expansion would devalue qualifying competitions.
He also questioned whether even a 48-team tournament might present challenges with 104 matches instead of 64.
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England last won the World Cup in 1966, the only time they hosted the tournament
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Despite not yet hosting a men's World Cup since 1966, Britain's rich footballing heritage makes it an ideal candidate for future tournaments.
The FIFA vice-president's endorsement carries significant weight within football's governing circles.
With world-class stadiums, passionate fans and proven experience hosting major sporting events, the UK is well-positioned to make a compelling case.
A successful men's World Cup would further cement Britain's status as the spiritual home of football and bring the beautiful game back to its roots.
