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BANGKOK - Competition to host the 2018 and 2022 World
Cups will be the fiercest ever but the home of the Premier League
is the ideal venue for the tournament, according to the head of
England's bid.
Andy Anson said the infrastructure and huge domestic passion for
the game made England the perfect choice, but he warned against
complacency with nine other countries bidding hard for the right to
host the tournament.
"We believe we can put on an incredibly exciting World Cup, and
we strongly believe we can win this bid," Anson told Reuters on
Thursday during a visit to Thailand.
"We have a very compelling case to win but it's incredibly
competitive, more than there has ever been for a World Cup. You
can't afford to be complacent, we have a nine countries bidding
very aggressively."
Australia, Japan, Mexico, Russia and the United States have bid
for both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, along with two joint
proposals from Belgium and the Netherlands and Spain and
Portugal.
South Korea, Indonesia and Qatar have confirmed their interest
in staging the 2022 finals. FIFA will decide on the hosts in
December 2010.
BIGGEST RIVALS
England has only hosted the World Cup once, in 1966, and the
former commercial director of Manchester United would not be drawn
on who the biggest rivals were.
"We can't talk about individual competitors, but that's helpful,
because there's no point focusing on any one competitor," he said.
"There are so many in the field, it makes you more determined to do
a good job."
Although England has bid for both the 2018 and 2022 finals,
Anson said the target was to stage the tournament as soon as
possible.
"We want 2018 and are very focused on that, we feel we have the
stadium, infrastructure and fans, we believe we can put on a great
World Cup in 2018 so why would we want to wait until 2022?"
England had learned from the unsuccessful "football's coming
home" bid to stage the 2006 finals, Anson said, and was travelling
the world to listen to the opinions of FIFA member countries.
POLITICAL INFIGHTING
Despite rumours of political infighting between different
sectors of the lucrative English game, Anson said all parties
involved had fully backed the bid.
"We've made it our priority, we have to communicate heavily to
everyone to make sure we're all in the loop and in the
decision-making process," he said.
"I've not met anyone who doesn't want to be on board or support
this bid. It's hard to see why England shouldn't have it, we now
have to convince the rest of the world."
Fifteen cities are aiming to earn the right to stage matches,
including lesser-known outposts like Hull, Bristol, Derby and
Milton Keynes, alongside the traditional strongholds of London,
Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle.
There will be a shortlist of 64 venues across the country, 32 of
which will be selected as base camps for the teams. One aim is to
spread the tournament to as many parts of the country as possible,
he added.
Plans to build new stadiums for Liverpool, Everton and Tottenham
Hotspur, in addition to established arenas of clubs like Arsenal,
Manchester United and Newcastle meant the bid had more capital to
channel into strengthening other areas.
"It's one of the attractions from this bid from an English point
is we don't have to develop anything major," Anson said.
Anson said he also believed the 2012 London Olympics would serve
as a launchpad.
"It's huge asset and the six years between is positive because
of resources, skills and infrastructure," he said.
"We have a great showcase in the Premier League, great stadiums
and fans who are committed and passionate. We have such a fantastic
base to build a bid on."