Russian football chief Aleksandr Dyukov says Ukraine has every right to launch a bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup Alongside Spain and Portugal, but sees this step as purely “Politics.”

It was officially confirmed on Wednesday that Ukraine will be included in the Spanish-Portuguese campaign to win World Cup hosting rights in eight years.

Details of the joint bid are yet to be finalized, although reports indicate Ukraine are aiming to host a 48-team tournament group.

Reacting to the news, Russian Football Union (RFU) President Dyukov said Ukraine’s participation in the Spanish-Portuguese bid makes little business sense.

“It’s their right [to bid]. The application is to be studied. I don’t see any business or marketing logic in such an app.” the head of Russian football said on Wednesday, as reported by RIA Novosti.

“The incorporation of Ukraine did not strengthen the initial offer. I see nothing here except politics,” added Dyukov, who is a member of the UEFA Executive Committee.

Announcing their joint bid, the football authorities of Spain, Portugal and Ukraine said they received the full support of the UEFA hierarchy.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) described him as “a global and transformative project for European football in an exceptional situation.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky gave his full support to the bid, writing on social media: “The joint bid of Spain, Portugal and Ukraine to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup is more than a symbol of faith in our common victory. Ukraine will endure, prevail and rebuild thanks to the solidarity of its partners.

The bid is expected to face fierce competition from a joint South American campaign including Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Paraguay.

Elsewhere, a possible three-way campaign between Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Greece is in the works. Morocco has also signaled its intention to bid, possibly alongside Tunisia and Algeria.

FIFA will officially announce the hosting rights at its congress in 2024.

Ukraine have experience of hosting a major tournament before, having hosted the 2012 UEFA European Championship alongside Poland.

However, the current Ukrainian plans have emerged in a very different context, given the ongoing conflict with Russia and the uncertainty it creates.

Russian football chief Vyacheslav Koloskov – who is a former FIFA vice-president – said he viewed Ukraine’s hopes of lifting the World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal as “unrealistic.”

“I personally see it as a PR campaign, it makes sense to promote themselves, what they think about the future of the country, the federation, football, etc.” said Koloskov.

Russia successfully hosted the last edition of the FIFA World Cup in 2018, when matches were played in 12 stadiums across 11 cities.

The 2022 World Cup will kick off in Qatar in November, while the 2026 version – which will be expanded to 48 teams from the current 32 – will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico.