Liverpool and Milton Keynes celebrate being part of World Cup bid

By Andrew Warshaw in London

December 16 – Any doubts about whether Liverpool would miss out on staging World Cup matches in 2018 were swept away today when Anfield was named as one of 17 stadiums in 12 venues across the country that will form a critical part of England’s bid to host the tournament in nine years’ time.

Questions have emerged in recent weeks as to whether the Merseyside region would possess a stadium worthy of consideration, with Everton’s plans for a new arena thrown out and funding for a prospective new Liverpool ground not yet forthcoming.

But the three-man selection panel choosing England’s candidate cities had no hesitation in selecting Anfield - either in its current, albeit revamped guise or on a new site at Stanley Park - as one of the venues to be presented to football’s world governing body in May next year.

“It would have been very hard to envisage an impressive World Cup bid with host cities that did not include iconic Liverpool,” said Lord Mawhinney, chairman of the Football League and head of the selection panel.

“Our view is that the present Anfield with some modification and modernisation would be adequate. Liverpool has aspirations for a new stadium but the time frame does not co-incide with ours so we have put both in.”

The choice of Liverpool was ultimately no surprise given the area’s unique footballing heritage.

Councillor Warren Bradley, the Leader of Liverpool City Council – who also led Liverpool’s 2018 Host City bid – said: ”Liverpool eats, drinks and sleeps football and today’s decision is one of those happy occasions which unites us all and one which every fan – be they blue or red – can celebrate.

“In fact even if you don’t like football there’s still plenty to celebrate because of the huge economic boost it will bring

”For a player, to be chosen to represent your country is the highest honour in football and the feeling is no different as a city.

”Of course, the hard work begins now but this decision has put a huge spring in our step and we will be pulling out all the stops to help England win the ultimate goal and bring the biggest sporting event to these shores in 2018.”

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said: “Liverpool is such an historic footballing city I’m not surprised we’ve been chosen.”

Reds manager Rafael Benitez said: “It’s great news.

“This city lives and breathes football and if England are successful it will be a fantastic stage for World Cup games.”

Everton missed out, but the club’s captain Phil Neville said: “This is great news for a great footballing city.

“But I always expected Liverpool to be selected.

“Any football tournament in this country without this city involved would be unthinkable.

“Let’s hope that England now wins the bid.”

Mawhinney made it clear that those chosen would present “the lowest possible risk” to FIFA who will trim the number of venues to a maximum of 12 by the year 2013 if England are successful.

As anticipated, the 17 stadiums cover the widest possible geographical spread with Plymouth in the South-West the most remote and the one FIFA will know least about.

Arguably the most innovative choice was that of Milton Keynes, a stadium only built five years ago but typical of the modern blueprint for multi-functional arenas with strong local investment.

Pete Winkelman, the chairman of MK Dons, who presented the city’s case, always believed his fledgling outfit could muscle its way into the elite of world football.

“It doesn’t surprise me – we’ve had complete political unity in the city and everyone from the police to the NHS have been backing the bid,” he said.

“That is what made our bid stand out.

“To be in amongst a host of fantastic footballing cities around the country is so exciting for us and we can’t wait to support the whole bid.”

Just as Liverpool are planning a new ground, so the prospective new 56,000-capacity Tottenham Hotspur stadium on virtually the same site as the current White Hart Lane and due to be completed in four years’ time faces an anxious wait.

With a maximum three stadiums allowed to be used in the capital and both Wembley and Arsenal’s Emirates ground certain to be picked by FIFA, Spurs will only get the nod if the Olympic stadium being used for the 2012 London Games is downsized from 80,000 to 25,000.

“A debate is ongoing and we are aware of that debate,” said Mahwinney.

“FIFA will have much more information in 2013 than we have today.

“What we have done is show an element of constructive flexibility.

“The Olympic Stadium will be so iconic we did not believe we should take it out of the equation at this point.”

While Nottingham Forest’s planned new ground was the biggest surprise, there will be disappointment and frustration for Derby, Hull and Leicester while Sheffield’s Bramall Lane was also rejected in favour of the more historic Hillsborough.

The choice of North-East rivals Newcastle and Sunderland represents something of a gamble given that FIFA will take the definitive choice.

Likewise neighbours Leeds and Sheffield.

But Mawhinney said those chosen represented “the strongest possible combination” in terms of winning the bid in December next year.

The new, as yet unbuilt stadiums in places like Nottingham and Bristol represented the future.

“We wanted a sprinkling of tomorrow,” said Mahwinney.

“As well as world-famous stadiums, we wanted to say to FIFA that we are looking at legacy.”

To find out information on all the cities and stadium selected click here.

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