SANTA FE, Argentina, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Chile has officially added its name to a joint South American bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, officials said on Wednesday.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera signed a cooperation agreement with his counterparts from Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay during the 54th Mercosur trade summit in Santa Fe, a city in northeastern Argentina.

"Now we have to win [the candidacy], eh?," Argentine President Mauricio Macri told journalists while posing for photographers.

Chile had announced its intention to join the South American nomination in February. Bolivia has also expressed interest in taking part and is still awaiting a response from the group.

The 2030 World Cup will be held 100 years after Uruguay won the tournament's inaugural edition as hosts.

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

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

Uruguay, Chile and Argentina have each individually staged the World Cup once before: in 1930, 1962 and 1978 respectively.