Manchester: host with the most?

Manchester is certain to be part of England 2018 bid

What part should Manchester play in a World Cup if the 2018 tournament comes to England?

It was 1966 when England last staged a World Cup and the nation's football-mad cities are vying to play a part in the next tournament to be played in England.

On 26 November 2009, fifteen cities which boast 40,000-plus seater stadia - including Manchester - submitted their cases for inclusion in the England 2018 World Cup bid.

Stadiums to be named for England's 2018 World Cup bid

The FA will then whittle the field down to ten cites and 12 to 18 stadia before making its final decision on December 16.

Host city

Manchester will almost certainly be included: despite competition from London, Liverpool, Birmingham and Sheffield, it's hard to imagine a World Cup that doesn't include Old Trafford, the 'Theatre of Dreams', and the largest football stadium in England after Wembley.

OLD TRAFFORD nicknamed 'Theatre of Dreams' 76,000-seater stadium second largest stadium in England after Wembley has hosted 1966 World Cup games, Euro '96 matches and 2003 Champions' League Final

Old Trafford hosted World Cup games 40 years ago and, since then, has been the venue for a Champions League Final, a Euro '96 semi-final as well as the 2000 Rugby World Cup Final.

And the City of Manchester stadium was the main venue for the 2002 Commonwealth Games as well as hosting the 2008 UEFA Cup Final.

If successful, World Cup matches would be held at both stadia with other training facilities and fans' events in the area.

The event would bring hundreds of thousands of football fans to the city and put Manchester on billions of TV screens around the world.

But with Wembley certain to be chosen for a World Cup Final, what part should Manchester play on and off the pitch?

Boasting two world class venues, the National Football Museum and a pedigree in staging major sporting events, should Manchester be content with staging matches up to the semi-finals?

Or is there a case for the city to play a larger role as the main host city of the World Cup?

Your comments

No Manchester shouldn't host the most. Because the city actually did for "EURO 96" and Old Trafford was "embarrassingly" half empty for many of the matches - including the semi final!!!

- Marc in Manchester

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