England have launched their campaign to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 with a reception at Wembley Stadium.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and England midfielder David Beckham were at the launch and there was a video message from Prince William.
Football Association chairman Lord Triesman, who is the bid chairman, is convinced England have the infrastructure to host the World Cup and believes the country will economically benefit from hosting the event.
Triesman said: “We in England would be truly honoured to host the World Cup and welcome the world.
“We have first-class grounds. We’ve got good transport links, domestically and internationally. We’ve got excellent accommodation.
“A World Cup in England would be a truly memorable event – not only for our nation but for every nation.
“We’d extend a wonderful welcome to players and fans from across the world.
“Inside and outside our grounds, we’d share with them our love of the game and our sense of fair play.
“And they would enjoy our diverse culture – one that means England would provide a home-from-home welcome for every fan and player.”
Triesman claimed the passion for football in England was key to the bid.
“We believe that England can stage a fantastic festival of football, one that will engage the whole country and deliver positive change for football in England and across the world,” he added.
“Now we must persuade our international friends and colleagues of our case. It’s easy to say, far less easy to do.
“Our starting point is England’s passion for football. It is our national sport, we have a strong football heritage which runs through every town and city.
“Every week hundreds of thousand of fans watch games and millions of people across the world and millions in this country – men women and children – play from pub sides to school teams to the FA Premier League and all of them – hundreds of million of worldwide know the Fifa World Cup is the global pinnacle of the game.”
For more fascinating features, subscribe and save 30% and use the below link?
