London’s ambitions to host another major global sporting event have run into a significant obstacle.
A dispute involving the London Stadium's primary tenant, West Ham United, is now threatening to complicate the capital’s bid for the World Athletics Championships in 2029.
How West Ham could ruin London's bid for the World Athletics Championships
The problem centres on the Hammers and their tenancy at the London Stadium, the proposed venue for the championships.
Organisers behind London’s bid want to stage the event in September 2029, which aligns with World Athletics’ preferred slot at the end of the track and field season. However, that schedule would require West Ham to vacate the stadium for roughly three weeks during the football season.
The club have refused to commit to doing so. In a statement, West Ham said any decision would be subject to their contractual “priority clause”, which guarantees that their fixtures take precedence during the football season.
Internally, the club believe the proposal could force them into at least three consecutive away matches, potentially disrupting their campaign. Club sources are also reportedly confident they could defend their position legally if necessary, as per the Daily Mail.
The disagreement comes as the UK government and UK Sport back the London bid, with funding support already pledged. Rival bids from cities such as Rome and Munich are also being prepared, raising fears that complications over dates could weaken London’s chances of hosting the tournament.
FGG says: No home games in September could hurt West Ham
For a football club, being forced to leave its home ground mid-season is never ideal, because a run of three or more consecutive away games could affect performance, logistics and revenue.
While hosting a global athletics event would undoubtedly be a major boost for London, West Ham’s reluctance is understandable given the competitive pressures of the football calendar.