Montevideo: The Uruguayan government has denied that the successful bid by Canada, Mexico and the US to host the 2026 World Cup had weakened the joint bid by Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay to host the 2030 edition.

“That the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) will host the World Cup in 2026 does not harm the bid by Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to organise this competition in 2030,” national secretary for sport Fernando Caceres said.

Caceres added that the rotation of World Cups is not based on continents, but confederations. Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay are part of the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol).

In 2030, the World Cup will be celebrating its 100th anniversary, with Uruguay having hosted the first edition in 1930 and won the championship, when they beat Argentina 4-2 in the final.

So far, this is the only formal bid to have been lodged, although there have been indications that England is preparing a bid, while Morocco and Algeria may table a joint effort.