In what would secure a country a guaranteed economic boom and certainly international prestige, the campaign to secure the FIFA World Cup is on. FIFA invited bids for both the World Cup 2018 and the World Cup 2022. Several nations
have applied to host the event, the majority of them being almost exclusively European. The Football Association (FA) has titled the English bid ‘England 2018’. The campaign has started will full swing and all the competing nations are striving hard to secure
the bid. England has previously hosted the 1966 World Cup and though they lost out to Germany for the 2006 bid, they are charging on with the present campaign. If England is successful in its bid it will be the sixth nation in history to host the tournament
twice.
Applications were invited earlier this year starting from the 15th of January, 2010, closing on the 2nd of February. An inspection committee from FIFA visited England in August 2010. The executive committee
will be voting on Thursday and its decision revealed later on in the day.
FIFA stipulates that at least one city of the hosting nation should have two stadiums designated for World Cup matches while other cities can only have one. In this case, England has more than one city with two designated stadiums.
Now FIFA will decide among the cities and stadiums late this year if England gets selected. Stadiums must have a capacity of 40,000 for group matches and second stage games and 60,000 for quarter finals and finals. Stadiums should be able to accommodate hospitality
villages of 20,000 sq. feet within the range of 150 meters from the stadium. FIFA will be monitoring the candidate’s capabilities on the following criteria.
Training and camping facilities should be provided. Well furnished accommodation facilities in the city. Fan parks for the tournament with big screens. Suitable transport to the city and to other host cities. High standard of security and sustainability initiatives.
Out of twelve cities, only fifteen cities would be proposed to FIFA, they include:
Wembley Stadium with a seating capacity of 90,000 (London) Emirates Stadium with 60,000 seating capacity (London) Olympic Stadium with a seating capacity of 80,000 would be presented to FIFA from London.
In Manchester, the Old Trafford is being proposed with a seating capacity of approximately 76,000.
Stanley Park in Liverpool with a 60,000 seating capacity Stadium of Light in Sunderland with a seating capacity of 49,000 St. James Park in Newcastle with 52,800 seating capacity Nottingham Forest stadium with 41,500 seating capacity New Bristol City Stadium in Bristol with a capacity of 44,000 City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester with a 47,000 seating capacity From Birmingham, Villa Park with a 42,700 capacity Hillsborough from Sheffield with a 39,800 capacity Elland Road from Leeds with a 39,400 capacity Home Park from Plymouth with a 20,000 capacity Stadium MK in Milton Keynes with a 22,000 capacity
England is quite competitive with the quality of services and the lobbying has already started with some of the biggest names fronting the bid chief among them and perhaps the most influential of them all David Beckham, Prime
Minister David Cameron and Prince William.
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