West Ham agreement ends long-running London Stadium row over hosting major 2029 sporting event

London's bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships has taken a major step forward after West Ham United reached an agreement over the use of London Stadium.

The deal removes one of the biggest obstacles facing the bid, with organisers now submitting their final proposal.

London Stadium row over World Athletics Championships finally over

The Hammers have confirmed they have reached an agreement with London Stadium LLP and Athletics Ventures that will allow the London Stadium to be included in the UK's bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships.

Concerns had grown in recent months that the bid could be jeopardised by uncertainty over the stadium's availability, particularly following the Hammers' relegation to the Championship.

However, after what the club described as “detailed negotiations” involving organisers, stadium operators, government officials and football authorities, an agreement has now been reached.

West Ham insisted that protecting supporters remained the club's “highest priority” throughout the discussions, adding that any impact on the football calendar would be kept to a minimum and would respect the terms of its concession agreement.

The club also revealed that the agreement will include “a number of new initiatives” aimed at enhancing both the stadium and the overall matchday experience for supporters, although further details have yet to be announced.

Any effect on West Ham's fixture schedule will only become clear once the club knows which division and competitions it will be involved in during the 2029/30 season, with further discussions planned alongside the relevant football authorities.

The agreement has enabled organisers to submit London's final bid, with the UK government, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and UK Athletics all backing the proposal to bring the World Athletics Championships back to the capital for the first time since the successful 2017 edition.

FGG says: An important breakthrough for West Ham and London Stadium

Reaching an agreement removes a significant obstacle that had threatened London's bid and once again highlights the unique role London Stadium plays as one of the few venues capable of hosting world-class athletics alongside professional football.

As long as the promised fixture disruption remains minimal and supporters genuinely benefit from the planned stadium improvements, this feels like a sensible compromise that allows the venue to continue delivering major international events without losing sight of West Ham's needs.