Latvian Minister of economics Viktors Valainis has suggested the Baltic region should be put forward as part of a wider bid to stage the 2038 FIFA World Cup finals, after meeting FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Valainis posted a photograph with Infantino on X on Thursday, setting out an outline that would combine the Baltics with Poland, Ukraine and the Nordic countries. In the post, he thanked Infantino for what he called changes brought by FIFA’s leadership and described the idea of multi-nation, regional tournaments as “the future”.
“The 2038 FIFA World Cup in the Baltics, Poland, Ukraine and the Nordics. Regional tournaments are the future. We are a new Europe. Ready to compete” Valainis wrote.
The post prompted a flurry of replies on social media, many sneering at whether Infantino was even aware of who Minister Valainis was, others reminding of that Latvia is still lacking a Category IV national stadium, and others still recalling the episode where FIFA president had a kick-about at the Kremlin.
The next men’s World Cup finals will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11th June to 19th July 2026.
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Source: https://sportacentrs.com/futbols/pk_2026/26022026-pasaules_kauss_latvija_valainis_satiek_fi
