Ireland’s experience in staging major international sporting extravaganzas is extremely limited and confined to events like the Ryder Cup, the Women’s Rugby World Cup and the Special Olympics. Although these were carried off with great success, they are relatively modest undertakings in a global sense. Setting a country’s sights on co-hosting the World Cup – sport’s greatest spectacle along with the Olympics – requires more than just a rich imagination and unbridled ambition. Ireland has also experienced similar disappointments with past attempts to win the hosting of world events. Bringing football home may be a lot more challenging than the popular ditty might suggest.

Source: The Irish Times March 05, 2021 18:45 UTC