England Confirm 2018 World Cup Bid

The Football Association has officially confirmed that England will table a bid
to host the 2018 World Cup.

FA chief executive Brian Barwick made the announcement only a matter after
days after world governing body FIFA announced that it was to scrap its
continent by continent rotation system for the 2018 bidding process – a scenario
that opened the door to an England bid.

England are likely to face opposition to host the 2018 event, from the likes
of Belgium, Netherlands, China, Australia, Mexico and the United States.

Bids need to be officially submitted by early in 2009, with FIFA’s executive
committee due to make a decision on the host nation in October of that year.

A bid to stage the 2018 World Cup was widely expected following the FIFA
announcement with Prime Minister Gordon Brown already having voiced his support
for any potential bid.

The FA last bid to host the tournament in 2006 but were soundly beaten in the
voting process by Germany after an error-filled campaign.

The cost of mounting a bid has been estimated at between £12m and £15m, less
half the bill for London’s bid for the 2012 Olympics, but the FA’s strong
commercial rights deals have placed it in a strong position to meet the cost.

Among the stadia likely to be considered for the bid include Old Trafford,
Emirates Stadium, St James’ Park, Stadium of Light, City of Manchester Stadium,
Villa Park, Stamford Bridge, Elland Road and the planned stadiums at Liverpool,
Everton, West Ham and Nottingham. The flagship games outlined in the bid will
almost certainly be staged at the new Wembley Stadium.