Euro 2020 Early Format Under Pandemic Threat, Boris Johnson Offers England To Be Single Host

JAKARTA - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered the country he leads to host the single European Cup (Euro) 2020 if needed.

The highest authority of football in Europe (UEFA) has previously set deadlines for deciding the format and future of the highest competition on the Blue Continent.

Euro 2020 had to be pushed back from its original schedule last summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is still scheduled to take place this year.

However, plans to maintain the original format, with the hosts split across 12 cities in multiple countries, remain under threat. With Britain taking the lead in the vaccination program, Johnson is ready to open the doors of his country.

"We are (part) of the host of the Euro," Johnson told The Sun quoted by Antara, Tuesday. "We hold semi-finals and finals."

"If they (UEFA) have another match that (us) want the title, we are ready for that, but at the moment the decision is with UEFA."

Meanwhile, the host of the 2030 World Cup has yet to be decided, confirmation will only be made three years from now.

Britain and the Republic of Ireland have submitted proposals to co-host the 2030 World Cup, and Johnson thinks saving the Euros this year could give them an edge over other candidate nations.

"We are very, very eager to get football back home by 2030," continued Johnson. "I feel (England) this is the right place."

"This is the home of football, the timing is right too. (If appointed to host the 2030 World Cup) it will be extraordinary for this country. "

Morocco is the first country to express its intention, they will likely stage with their North African neighbors Algeria and Tunisia.

England also get competition from Europe, because Spain and Portugal have declared themselves co-hosts.

Other countries such as Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Serbia have also offered to host the highest football competition.

Asian and North American countries are not allowed to enter the race for hosts as they have hosted the 2022 and 2026 World Cups.

The South American nation will emerge as strong contenders with Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile registering to co-host.

The countries from South America are rumored to be favorites because there is a lot of support for Uruguay to host the quadrennial event, to mark 100 years of competition since the start of the 1930 World Cup.