ENGLAND 2018 bid chief Andy Anson claims it will be hard for any of their rivals to match the stadiums that will form part of the campaign to host the World Cup.
Twelve cities and up to 17 potential venues were yesterday selected by England 2018 including Milton Keynes, Plymouth and Bristol.
Anson, England 2018 chief executive, said he is confident the bid will not suffer the same fate as the 2006 campaign when FIFA inspectors rated the facilities below those of both Germany and South Africa.
FIFA's inspectors arrive in August and Anson said: "It will be hard for anyone else to match the mixture and depth of quality of our stadia.
"If you look down the whole list so many changes have happened since then, and our stadia have moved on to a whole new level so I'm confident we will have a very successful inspection.
"We can't be complacent and have to present the cities and their stadiums in the best possible light but they have all moved on significantly."
Each of the 12 cities will have to contribute £250,000 to the cost of the bid whether or not England are successful in the FIFA vote in December next year.
Anson also revealed he hopes the bid will take up the offer of a £2.5million loan from the government and insisted the campaign is in good financial shape.
"Two or three commercial deals are almost in place, I'm more confident than ever we will have at least the £15.5million we require and hopefully more.
"I would like to take up the loan because the government have shown fantastic commitment this week in terms of getting the guarantees signed. It's a decision for FA and bid board - it's how it's repaid and in what form that's still being discussed."
Anson also said that only Old Trafford, Wembley and the Olympic Stadium - if it is kept at 80,000 seats - would have the capacity to host semi-finals.
The stadiums that missed out on selection included Derby's Pride Park, the Walkers Stadium in Leicester, the KC Stadium in Hull and Sheffield United's Bramall Lane.
Lord Mawhinney, the bid deputy chairman who headed the selection panel, said: "There will be a lot of disappointed football fans around the country and I understand that - and if I was a fan of theirs I would be just as disappointed."
England are up against countries including Spain/Portugal, Russia, Australia and the USA for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. FIFA's 24-man executive will vote on the two host countries in December next year.
Anson, England 2018 chief executive, said he is confident the bid will not suffer the same fate as the 2006 campaign when FIFA inspectors rated the facilities below those of both Germany and South Africa.
FIFA's inspectors arrive in August and Anson said: "It will be hard for anyone else to match the mixture and depth of quality of our stadia.
"If you look down the whole list so many changes have happened since then, and our stadia have moved on to a whole new level so I'm confident we will have a very successful inspection.
"We can't be complacent and have to present the cities and their stadiums in the best possible light but they have all moved on significantly."
Each of the 12 cities will have to contribute £250,000 to the cost of the bid whether or not England are successful in the FIFA vote in December next year.
Anson also revealed he hopes the bid will take up the offer of a £2.5million loan from the government and insisted the campaign is in good financial shape.
"Two or three commercial deals are almost in place, I'm more confident than ever we will have at least the £15.5million we require and hopefully more.
"I would like to take up the loan because the government have shown fantastic commitment this week in terms of getting the guarantees signed. It's a decision for FA and bid board - it's how it's repaid and in what form that's still being discussed."
Anson also said that only Old Trafford, Wembley and the Olympic Stadium - if it is kept at 80,000 seats - would have the capacity to host semi-finals.
The stadiums that missed out on selection included Derby's Pride Park, the Walkers Stadium in Leicester, the KC Stadium in Hull and Sheffield United's Bramall Lane.
Lord Mawhinney, the bid deputy chairman who headed the selection panel, said: "There will be a lot of disappointed football fans around the country and I understand that - and if I was a fan of theirs I would be just as disappointed."
England are up against countries including Spain/Portugal, Russia, Australia and the USA for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. FIFA's 24-man executive will vote on the two host countries in December next year.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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