The improbable alliance of two football fans: Macri will open the door to Evo Morales to allow Bolivia to join the 2030 World Cup

They are very far in the ideology, but they are united by football: President Mauricio Macri is ready to pave the way for Evo Morales to go forward with an idea that few have seen possible, to organize the World Cup in Bolivia in 2030.

"Argentina is in favor of Bolivia, but both countries and foreign ministries must work hard, and on the side of Conmebol, there is no objection", a- he declared. Infobae a fundamental man of a candidacy that, until today, unites Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile. And everything indicates that soon also Bolivia.

"On behalf of the Conmebol, there is no problem," he confirmed. Infobae the president of the entity that governs South American football, Alejandro Domínguez. "But it's something that depends on the four presidents," he added.

With the opening of Argentina and Conmebol to which Bolivia adheres, it remains to confirm the method to carry it out. It seems difficult to see again what happened when Paraguay was added to a candidacy that initially only brought together Argentina and Uruguay. Macri then called the fait accompli, because the Argentinian president concluded the agreement directly with his counterpart of then, Horacio Mapsand Dominguez, of which he is a good friend.

Tabaré Vázquez, the Uruguayan president, discovered late. So late that he's pissed off and a lot with his Argentine colleague. The joint offer was about to be wrecked, but over the weeks the crisis calmed down and Paraguay was added to work. Then Chile was incorporated, this time with the approval of Vázquez from the beginning.

The argument of the Argentines, where the businessman and former administrator of Racing Fernando Marín plays a key role, is still the same: the more countries and enthusiasm, the better c & # 39; is. In that it coincides Dominguez, who has his eyebrows, brings the World Cup to South America exactly one hundred years from the first World Cupwhich was held in 1930 in Uruguay.

With the support of history, however, this is not enough. The British federations are considering running for office, behind which all the powers (and votes) of UEFA would be. Not to mention if the joint candidacy of Spain and Morocco is confirmed, a Mediterranean World Cup that would be the first time bi-continent of history. Between Europe and Africa, they add nearly half of the votes of the federations which, in 2022, will have to decide the siege of 2030.

And China is a mystery, even if the certainty is that sooner or later you will feel its power and want to win the World Cup. The most populous country and the second largest economy on the planet are not in vain.

There is no history of a World Cup contested in five countries. The year 2002 was marked by an innovation with South Korea and Japan. Joseph Blatter, then FIFA President, said that "never again" would use this format, but in June 2018, FIFA Gianni Infantino gave the World Cup in 2026 in the United States, Mexico and the United States. Canada. For 2022, which will be played in Qatar, it is possible that two other countries of the Persian Gulf will join. The most extreme antecedent is Europe, which will play next year a European Championship in 12 cities of 12 countries. The same year, Argentina and Colombia will share the headquarters of Copa America.

Bolivia has very little history in the World Cups. He was only in three World Cups, lost five of the six games he played, drew, scored 20 goals and scored only one. But Morales is one of the most numerous football presidents in the world. It is in direct competition with Macri., and stubbornly add his country to the eventual South American World Cup.

If that succeeds, it will be limited. The phrase circulating among those who support the incorporation of Bolivia is quite graphic: "What damage does the World Cup add to some games in Santa Cruz?". So, Morales' idea of ​​taking the World Cup to his country has limits: The Argentineans consider it reasonable that Santa Cruz de la Sierra be the seat, as it is a city with a tropical climate and low altitude. Bringing the World Cup back to the Hernando Siles stadium, at nearly 3,600 meters, is a pipe dream, even though Morales has always campaigned with her to raise the issue at the same FIFA headquarters. Impossible, because that would imply a clear competitive disadvantage for the teams that pbad through it.

Playing in Santa Cruz, however, is no different from that of Asunción, one of the four party bid seats. Morales has already sent his sports minister, Tito Montaño, to the Sport Summit, which hosted Punta del Este in February. The Bolivian minister overwhelmed his colleagues with very well-grounded speeches on why his country was due to join his country and proposed two rooms: Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. The enthusiasm was such that after the meeting, Marín left a sentence that caught the attention: "Bolivia is the new brother of the candidacy".

Montaño advances on this path. "The President of Paraguay (Mario Abdo Benítez) recently made public here in Bolivia his support for our membership," said the Bolivian Minister Infobae. "We are optimistic because we understand that what is planned is a candidacy from South America."

The Bolivian government expects representatives from Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Asunción and Santiago that they honor their commitment to Punta del Este: involve their respective presidents and give a clear answer to La Paz.

That's why we play a lot in the meeting that Macri will hold on the 22nd of this month with Morales. Finished what happened last October, when the Bolivian president went to Buenos Aires without seeing his Argentine colleague. Tensions over reciprocity in medical care for citizens of both countries and the discussion about the price of gasoline can be quieted by football.

"I think Evo can convince the president," he said. Infobae one of the strongest men of 2030. "And during the visit, they are likely to organize a match to play them."