UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin is looking for the World Cup to return to Europe for 2030.

Speaking during an interview with BBC in Cardiff, Ceferin who was elected last year said: “It’s simply time that we host the World Cup in 2030.

“We cannot just sell the World Cup to the ones who pay more. We cannot just change the rules because we have some big sponsors prepared to pay to FIFA”.

Under the rules of FIFA led by President Gianni Infantino, World Cup tournaments are supposed to cycle between continents with no return for two editions.

Russia in 2018 is to be followed by Qatar in 2022 and 2026 is the next contract to be awarded, with expectations that a North American bid would be successful. The 2030 tournament looks likely to draw bids from China, Europe and possibly South America.

Recently, Chinese companies reportedly signed top-tier sponsorship deals with FIFA lasting to 2030, and China is eager to mount a bid for the first time despite current rules effectively blocking another Asian bid before the 2034 edition.

“I didn’t want to speak just about China,” said Ceferin on Friday, “but the most important thing is that the World Cup should go to the country that has the best bid, and if you are not able to organise it that is sustainable, that brings some revenues, then it’s another problem.”

The UEFA President said he did not know which European countries would want to bid for the 2030 World Cup., but noted that a bid from the British Isles, 64 years after England hosted and won the tournament in 1966, might be deserved.

He, however, noted that a bid from the British Isles, 64 years after England hosted and won the tournament in 1966, might be deserved.