SANTIAGO, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chile has been added to a bid by Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, President of Chile Sebastian Pinera said on Thursday.

"A few months ago I proposed to the presidents of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay to incorporate Chile, and jointly, to apply for 2030," Sebastian Pinera said on Twitter. "This proposal was accepted by the three countries."

The tournament will be held 100 years after Uruguay won the inaugural World Cup as hosts.

Argentina and Uruguay originally announced plans to bid for the event two years ago before Paraguay was added to the candidacy in October 2017.

Chile hosted the World Cup in 1962 and the last time the competition was held in South America was the 2014 edition in Brazil.

Argentina staged it in 1978 while Uruguay have not held the quadrennial event since 1930. Paraguay are aiming to be hosts for the first time.

The South American effort faces competition from a British-Irish bid and a group comprising Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.