Argentine, Uruguayan gov't to support World Cup bid

Argentina and Uruguay will bid to stage the 2030 World Cup finals jointly in the 100th anniversary year of soccer's showpiece, the Foreign ministers of both countries announced.

"We have agreed to set up a bi-national committee to support the initiative together with the national football associations, AFA and AUF, to promote the candidature of Argentina and Uruguay for the 2030 World Cup," Argentina's Foreign minister Hector Timerman said.

The inaugural World Cup was held in Uruguay, then the Olympic champions, with the home country beating neighbours Argentina 4-2 in the final at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo.

Both countries have won the tournament twice, Uruguay also in 1950, Argentina in 1978 and 1986.

Record five-times world champions Brazil are organising the 2014 finals, their second as hosts after 1950.

Soccer's world governing body FIFA last year awarded the finals in 2018 to Russia and 2022 to Qatar.