England may bid for 2018 World Cup

The study will investigate whether the country has the resources and infrastructure to deliver a successful tournament. It will also determine whether a positive legacy would be left afterwards and crucially, whether England actually has a chance of being awarded the World Cup by Fifa.
Although the initiative has come from Government, ultimately it’s the FA which must go to Fifa and officially apply to host the tournament.

BBC pundit and former Spurs and Charlton striker Garth Crooks, speaking to Stuart Weir of Christians in Sport, said "I would be absolutely delighted if the FA and the UK government were to bid for the 2018 World Cup. I have been to many World Cups and they are fantastic events. I would be really excited if the World Cup came to my country once in my life time. It would be a brilliant event and more importantly would leave a fantastic legacy for the future.

"I was involved in the failed 2006 bid and I am convinced that we have learned the lessons from the failure and would be able to put together a much stronger case for 2018.”

If London successfully delivers the 2012 Olympics it would prove that England capable of hosting global sports events. Additionally, the new Wembley stadium will finished next year, and London's transport system overhauled.

But will Fifa be reluctant to be seen as giving too much to one nation?
History is in England’s favour. Germany hosted the 1974 World Cup, two years after Munich held the Olympic Games, and Atlanta staged the 1996 Olympics two years after the USA hosted the '94 World Cup.

For further information on ministry planned in Germany 2006 check out the website kickoff2006.  This website has been put together to help Germany churches in their outreaching during the event.

A booklet and video are being produced for ministry around the 2006 World Cup - further details to follow.