Portsmouth To Bid For 2018 Matches

Portsmouth City Council has announced it will bid to become a host city as part of England’s campaign to stage the FIFA World Cup in 2018.

‘Portsmouth. People. Passion. Pride.’ is the council’s vision to become part of England’s bid to host the showpiece tournament.

The Premier League club plans to expand the capacity of Fratton Park to 30,000 before building a new stadium with a 40,000 plus capacity.

Portsmouth executive chairman Peter Storrie was among a number of high profile guests that attended a briefing at the Guildhall in Portsmouth including the council’s chief executive, David Williams, and the leader of the council, Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson.

Williams commented: ‘The football World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world and represents a huge, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Portsmouth.

‘Portsmouth’s bid for host city status is proof of the city’s aspirations to establish itself as a truly international city.’