‘Back the bid’ says 2018 World Cup chief
MANCHESTER and Liverpool’s football clubs will play an essential part in the 2018 World Cup – bringing a bonanza to this region – if the tournament comes to England.
Oldham-born Andy Anson, who is leading the bid, was speaking to business chiefs at the CBI North West annual dinner last night.
Mr Anson, a former commercial director at Manchester United, urged business leaders across the region to rally behind the England 2018 World Cup bid.
He said that success would result in a £3.2bn bonanza for the UK’s economy – at a time when the country needed it most.
Former Disney and Channel Four executive Mr Anson is currently travelling round the world lobbying FIFA’s 24 executives before the bid is formally submitted on May 11.
FIFA will announce its decision about where the tournament will take place on December 2.
England has not hosted the World Cup since 1966 and it is seen as one of the leading contenders for the tournament in either 2018 or 2022.
“I can’t imagine anything better than the sight of Wayne Rooney leading the England team out during the 2018 World Cup in this country,” said Mr Anson, who had been temporarily stranded in Tokyo, in Japan, late last week after all flights were cancelled.
“PricewaterhouseCoopers has made a conservative estimate that that hosting the World Cup could bring in excess of £3.2bn to the UK’s economy at a time when it needs it.
“FIFA asked us to identify 17 stadiums across 12 cities and Manchester is clearly one of the cities where the inspectors will come to – it has two fantastic stadiums here. The same will also apply for Liverpool by 2018.
“In short, this country has – the passion for football, cultural diversity which visitors find welcoming and all the infrastructure including stadiums, hotels and public transport in place.
“England also has a track record of commercial success when it comes to football and this is essential to generate funds to help with FIFA’s overseas projects.
“And we have also shown on many occasions that we can put something back into society through our love for football – organisations like the Manchester United Foundation in this city show this.
“But we are up against some formidable competition from other countries and we have to work hard to put our case ahead of theirs.
“And part of this process is to show FIFA that we have the support of businesses – through sponsorship and in other ways.
“By 2018, it will be 52 years since the World Cup was last held in this country… and if we all pull together then we really can make it happen.”
