Government Backs 2018 World Cup Bid

The government is willing to back a English bid to stage the 2018 World Cup
according to Minister for Sport Richard Caborn.

According to Caborn, Chancellor Gordon Brown and UEFA president Lennart
Johansson have met to discuss the idea – talks which produced a positive
outcome.

The 2010 tournament has already been handed to South Africa and the 2014
World Cup will go to a South American country meaning that the 2018 event
represents the first viable opportunity for a European country to stage the
World Cup.

Any English bid is likely to face competition from the other stalwarts of
European football – Spain, Italy and France.

However, following the victory in winning the Olympics in 2012, an English
bid is understood to be backed by a number of heavyweight members of football’s
governing bodies.