Bulgaria–Greece–Romania–Serbia UEFA Euro 2028 and 2030 FIFA World Cup bid

The Bulgaria–Greece–Romania–Serbia UEFA Euro 2028 and 2030 FIFA World Cup bid was a joint bid to host the UEFA Euro 2028 and 2030 FIFA World Cup by Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Serbia. The bid was led by the Craiova Group.

2030 Bulgaria–Greece–Romania–Serbia UEFA Euro 2028 and 2030 FIFA World Cup bid

Bulgarian: България-Гърция-Румъния-Сърбия 2030 Greek: Βουλγαρία-Ελλάδα-Ρουμανία-Σερβία 2030 Romanian: Bulgaria-Grecia-România-Serbia 2030 Serbian: Бугарска-Грчка-Румунија-Србија 2030 Bugarska-Grčka-Rumunija-Srbija 2030
Tournament details
Host countries	Bulgaria  Greece  Romania  Serbia
Teams	48 (from 6 confederations)
Venue(s)	16 (in 14 host cities)

On 25 February 2019, at the meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria of the Ministers of Youth and Sports of Romania, Constantin Bogdan Matei; Bulgaria, Krasen Kralev; Serbia, Vanja Udovičić and Deputy Minister of Culture and Sports of Greece, Giorgos Vasileiadis, it was officially confirmed that these four countries would submit joint candidacy for the organization of the UEFA Euro 2028 and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.^[1][2][3] Following the second meeting, the ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on 10 April 2019 in Thessaloniki, Greece.^[4] However, the project has been quietly abandoned, mainly due to Greece bidding with Egypt and Saudi Arabia.^[5]

Possible 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 matches and second round matches, 50,000 for quarter final and 60,000 for the semi-finals and at least 80,000 for the Opening Match and Final; none of the countries concerned have stadiums with such a capacity for the opening and final matches as of yet and the rules for 2030 have not been announced. Olympic Stadium was the stadium mentioned to host the Opening Match, while the Bucharest Arena was set for the Final match.^[6]

Bulgaria Sofia Plovdiv Vasil Levski National Stadium Plovdiv Stadium Capacity: 44,000 (to be renovated and expanded to 50,000) Capacity: 55,000 (to be renovated) Sofia Plovdiv Burgas Varna Bulgarian cities Burgas Varna Chernomorets Arena New Varna Stadium Capacity: 30,000 (Planned) Capacity: 22,000 (Under Construction)

Greece Athens Olympic Stadium Agia Sophia Stadium Capacity: 75,000 Capacity: 31,800 Athens Piraeus Thessaloniki Greek cities Piraeus Thessaloniki Karaiskakis Stadium New Toumba Stadium Capacity: 32,112 Capacity: 41,926 (Planned)

Romania Bucharest Cluj-Napoca Arena Națională Cluj Arena Capacity: 55,634 Capacity: 30,201 Bucharest Cluj-Napoca Craiova Iași Timișoara Romanian cities Craiova Iași Stadionul Ion Oblemenco New Iași Arena [7] Capacity: 30,983 Capacity: 25,000 (Planned) Timișoara New Timișoara Stadium [citation needed] Capacity: 30,000 (Planned)

Serbia Belgrade New National Stadium Rajko Mitić Stadium Capacity: 60,000 (Planned) Capacity: 55,538 (To be renovated) Belgrade Niš Kragujevac Serbian cities Niš Kragujevac Čair Stadium Čika Dača Stadium Capacity: 18,151 (to be renovated and expanded to 25 000) Capacity: 15,100 (to be renovated and expanded to 20 000)

Key people

• Borislav Mihaylov – president of the Bulgarian Football Union
• Evangelos Grammenos – president of the Hellenic Football Federation
• Răzvan Burleanu – president of the Romanian Football Federation
• Slaviša Kokeza – president of the Football Association of Serbia

See also

• Uruguay–Argentina–Chile–Paraguay 2030 FIFA World Cup bid
• Spain–Portugal–Morocco 2030 FIFA World Cup bid

References

1. "Întâlnire decisivă pentru organizarea Euro 2028 și CM 2030 » Ultimele detalii despre candidatura României, Serbiei, Greciei și Bulgariei". Gazeta Sporturilor. 25 February 2019.
2. "Romanian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Greek governments to create organizing committee for EURO2028 and WC2030 candidacies". Ştiri pe Surse. 25 February 2019.
3. "Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece and Romania with joint bid to host UEFA Euro 2028". bnr.bg. 25 February 2019.
4. "[Romanian] Government: Memorandum on joint Serbia-Romania-Bulgaria-Greece candidacy for organising Euro 2028, World Cup 2030". ACTMedia.eu. 11 April 2019.
5. "Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Greece launch bid for 2030 World Cup - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East". www.al-monitor.com. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
6. "UNITED BID COMMITTEE COMMENCES OUTREACH FOR POTENTIAL HOST CITIES IN BID FOR 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP". US Soccer. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
7. "A new stadium in Romania". www.digisport.ro. Retrieved 24 September 2020.