Soccer World CupThe England Football Association yesterday bowed to the growing public and political clamour to bring the World Cup to England for what will be the first time in 52 years when it officially confirmed that it will bid to host the 2018 tournament.
There will be stiff competition from Russia, China, Australia and Belgium and The Netherlands and possible bids from Mexico and the United States, but with support from the British Prime Minister and goodwill from influential figures in the world game England will start the race as favourite.
While the FA's desire to mount a bid was not a surprise, the timing of the announcement was.
On Monday Fifa cleared the way by scrapping its system of continental rotation, but indications from Soho Square were that the FA would assess its chances before formally declaring its hand.
At a board meeting yesterday, however, the enthusiasm of members from the professional and amateur games swept away any reservations.
FA executives had circulated a document proposing a six-month cooling-off period during which the feasibility of a bid would be assessed, but that plan was abandoned in favour of an early declaration.
The Manchester United chief executive, David Gill, was among those in favour of action, arguing that to prevaricate would risk a loss of momentum. Gill was backed by the FA chairman, Geoff Thompson, who as recently as Tuesday was advocating an ultra-cautious approach.
He reported that the feedback from Fifa executive committee members, including the Uefa president, Michel Platini, had been overwhelmingly positive.
"I'm delighted to announce our intention to bid to host the World Cup in 2018," Thompson said. "The tremendous support from Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his government has also been a key consideration in today's decision. I'm delighted the FA board have been so positive in their support for a bid. It would be tremendous for English football and the whole country if we are successful."
The FA will now assess how to structure the bid, which will cost around €21 million. The key areas they have identified include maximising support for England internationally; financing the bid and financial planning for the tournament; identifying the stadiums and training facilities to be used and ensuring the infrastructure is in place to support the tournament.
It is thought a separate bid company, owned by the FA, will be led by an experienced figure from the private sector. Fifa will seek expressions of interest next year with bid documents handed in by 2009.
The decision, made on a vote of the 24 members of Fifa's executive committee, will be made in 2011. The chances of the FA landing the biggest competition in world sport are vastly better than the last time it tried. The bid for the 2006 World Cup, a race won by Germany, was little short of a disaster.
The FA pressed ahead despite warnings that by doing so it was reneging on a gentleman's agreement with Germany not to bid, a deal done to help bring Euro 96 to England.
It ended in an ignominious exit in the first round of voting, with only five of Fifa's 24 executive committee members backing England, a humiliation which damaged the FA's reputation among football's powerbrokers.
This time the landscape could hardly be more different. In terms of public and political support, bidding expertise and backing from the football world the FA could not be better placed.
The reasons begin at the top. Gordon Brown has been urging England to bid for the tournament for well over a year, latching on to the prospect in the aftermath of London's success in the race for the 2012 Olympics.
Last week Fifa's president, Sepp Blatter, who despite the veneer of democracy at football's top table will ultimately decide the destination of the 2018 tournament, made his second visit to Downing Street this year. In a meeting with Brown he assured the Prime Minister that the rotation system preventing England from bidding would be abandoned and urged the FA to launch a full bid. Speaking outside he welcomed England's interest, which is as close to a personal endorsement as any nation is going to get.
