Prime Minister Andy Burnham attended his first Everton match since taking office on Saturday, watching the Premier League game against Crystal Palace at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool.
Mr Burnham was spotted in the stands alongside his wife Marie-France van Heel and former footballer Peter Reid. Reid was also in the crowd outside Downing Street when Mr Burnham took office last month.
Long-time Everton fan
The former Greater Manchester mayor is a long-time supporter of the club. His attendance comes amid reported discussions about the UK hosting future football tournaments.
According to reports, Mr Burnham spoke about his desire for the UK to host the men’s World Cup again during a meeting with regional mayors on Friday. A source said he has a “general ambition” to host more tournaments and would support the FA with any future World Cup bids.
World Cup ambitions
Hosts have already been allocated up to the 2034 tournament. Last month, Mr Burnham called it “insane” that the UK has only hosted one World Cup, in 1966.
As culture, media and sport secretary, he was involved in the unsuccessful 2010 bid for England to host the World Cup, which was awarded to Russia.
UK tournament record
Although the UK has not secured a men’s World Cup for 60 years, it has hosted games at the men’s European Championships twice, and fixtures at the 2028 tournament will be played in the UK and Ireland. The UK will also host the women’s World Cup in 2035, having hosted the 2005 and 2022 women’s European Championships. The latter saw England’s women win the tournament for the first time on home soil.
A Government spokesperson said: “The UK is committed to delivering world-class major sporting events with pride, with the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes Grands Departs 2027 and Uefa Euro 2028 secured, and active bids for the 2029 World Athletics Championships and 2035 women’s World Cup.”
“As the Prime Minister has made clear, we will continue to pursue sporting events that bring communities together, drive regional growth and create jobs across the country.”
