Andy Burnham is reportedly exploring a UK bid to host a men's football World Cup, alongside proposals for an Olympic Games to be held in the north of England, as part of a wider strategy to use major sporting events to boost investment, tourism and regeneration outside London. According to The i, the prime minister told colleagues at No 10 North that he was in talks with footballing bodies about a potential campaign, which would mark the first time the World Cup has returned to the UK since England's victorious hosting in 1966.

The next available men's World Cup tournaments are in 2038, 2042 and 2046, though Fifa has yet to open the bidding process. Burnham, an Everton supporter, has previously expressed frustration that the tournament has only been staged in Britain once, and has also called on Fifa president Gianni Infantino to resign over a stake-selling plan. Separately, culture secretary Lisa Nandy has backed a coalition of northern mayors campaigning for a "northern Olympics" in the 2040s, while the UK is already set to host the women's World Cup in 2035 and the men's Euros in 2028 jointly with Ireland.