The –Greece–Egypt–Greece–Saudi Arabia 2030 FIFA World Cup bid was a joint bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup by Egypt, Greece, and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia was expected to lead the effort. Had it been successful, it would have been the first FIFA World Cup, men's or women's, to hosted in countries that are part of three different football federations (AFC, CAF and UEFA) on three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe and the first men's tournament to be held in more than one continental confederation.
Background
In recent years, the three nations have developed strong political, economic, and military ties. The bid could be the culmination of the alliance between the three nations, and is expected to be officially announced a few weeks before the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The three countries share extensive maritime borders: Egypt with Greece and Egypt with Saudi Arabia.
Bid withdrawal
In a Sada El-Balad interview on April 8, 2023, Egypt's Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhy stated that Egypt does not intend on submitting a bid for the 2030 World Cup., later, on June 23th, 2023, the three nations announced they would not summit a bid to host the World Cup, citing the CAF's support for the Spain-Portugal-Morocco bid as a reason.
Potential venues
For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it has been confirmed that stadiums must have a capacity of at least 40,000 for group round, second round, and quarter final matches, 60,000 for the semi-finals, and at least 80,000 for the Opening Match and Final. The rules for 2030 have not been announced.
Egypt
Greece
Saudi Arabia
Other potential venues
30 June Stadium (Cairo) - 30 000
Al Salam Stadium (Cairo) - 30 000
Ismailia Stadium (Ismailia) - 30 000
Suez Stadium (Suez) - 27 000
Alexandria Stadium (Alexandria) - 20 000
New Panathinaikos Stadium (Athens) - 38 000
Karaiskakis Stadium (Piraeus) - 32 115
Kaftanzoglio Stadium (Thessaloniki) - 27 770
Pankritio Stadium (Herakleion) - 26 240
Pampeloponnisiako Stadium (Patras) - 23 588
Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium (Thessaloniki) - 22 800
Panthessaliko Stadium (Volos) - 22 700
Concerns
Much like the 2022 FIFA World Cup, if this bid had been selected, the tournament would most likely be moved to the winter due to the high summer temperatures of the location. There was also concern about Saudi Arabia using the tournament as part of a larger football sportswashing campaign, which has already seen the PIF take over Newcastle United, their hosting of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, and Cristiano Ronaldo being signed to Al Nassr FC in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia is also a member of the AFC, whose rotation would have prevented member countries from hosting World Cup until 2034. The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also came under fire from the opposition Syriza in 2023 after a rumored deal involving Saudi Arabia building new stadiums in both Greece and Egypt was revealed by Politico. There was also concern in Greece about paying for mega events and large sports infrastructure, as many still remember the 2004 Summer Olympics, which left many abandoned venues and was partially blamed for the country's debt crisis. Additionally, with FIFA cutting the Visit Saudi sponsorship deal in April 2023 for the Women's World Cup, there would have been issues with whether or not FIFA would be willing to support the bid.