“BRING football home” was the message from Prime Minister Boris Johnson today as England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland launched their joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup.

Mr Johnson claimed it was the “right time” for Britain to host football’s lead international tournament, despite similar tactics failing in spectacular fashion the last time Britain attempted to host a World Cup — Qatar won the rights to host the 2022 World Cup.

The one time England hosted the tournament they won it in 1966, under a Labour government.

The leader of the Conservative Party said: “We are very, very keen to bring football home in 2030. I do think it’s the right place.

“It’s the home of football, it’s the right time. It will be an absolutely wonderful thing for the country.”

The English FA will pledge £2.8 million towards the potential bid, with a feasibility study set to go under way and will continue before the formal bidding process begins next year.

A joint statement released by the FA and the football associations of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland on Monday evening read: “The football associations and government partners of the UK and Ireland are delighted that the UK government has committed to support a prospective five-association bid for the 2030 Fifa World Cup.

“We will continue to undertake feasibility work to assess the viability of a bid before Fifa formally open the process in 2022.

“Staging a Fifa World Cup would provide an incredible opportunity to deliver tangible benefits for our nations.

“If a decision is made to bid for the event, we look forward to presenting our hosting proposals to Fifa and the wider global football community.”

England manager Gareth Southgate would love the country to host the World Cup in 2030, while he highlighted the importance of the financial boost being given to grassroots football.

“Well, I think for everybody that (hosting a World Cup) would be an amazing experience,” the Three Lions boss told talkSPORT.

“It’s not perhaps as eye-catching but I think there’s £25 million this morning put towards grassroots pitches.

“At the moment it is heartbreaking every weekend to see empty pitches but actually, when we are back up and getting ourselves back on our feet, sport for kids and getting kids engaged again in playing sport is going to be so important for us – health, wellbeing, everything.

“That sort of sum going into facilities is really important as well.”

The 2022 World Cup will take place in Qatar next year, despite ongoing calls to strip the country of the tournament due to human rights abuses, while the 2026 tournament is to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.