As a host of dignitaries from varying fields, such as David Beckham and Gordon Brown, posed on the hallowed turf of London’s Wembley Stadium to mark the launch of England’s World Cup 2018 bid on May 18th, a combination of optimism and caution was visible amid the smiles and the suits.

Flanked by international colleague Wayne Rooney, Beckham spoke about the passion for football in England—from grass-roots level right through to the Premier League. By 2018, fifty years will have passed since the World Cup came to these shores—but the consensus is confidence as England’s party launched their bid to bring the greatest show on earth back to its homeland.

As the jewel in the crown of the entire bid, Wembley was an ideal venue for a launch party attended by past and present England players, alongside schoolchildren sporting t-shirts emblazoned with the bid’s slogan—“England United, the world invited”.

“I know this country, with its first-class stadiums and tremendous passion for football, would host an incredible tournament,” Prime Minister Brown said.

“It's fitting that we are launching the bid in England, the home of football, and at Wembley—the greatest stadium in the world.”

Indeed, of the other countries bidding for the 2018 tournament (including the USA, Mexico, and Russia), it is difficult to recall a stadium which strikes such a balance of modern facilities, rich history and sheer amazement as the ‘New’ Wembley. Completed two years ago at a cost of around £1billion, the ground is the second largest in Europe and the largest with every seat undercover.

A retractable roof protects the sometimes-vulnerable playing surface from the London elements, and spectator comfort is at a paramount inside the awe-inspiring venue—with more toilets than any other venue in the world, and amounts of legroom unprecedented at football grounds.

However, FIFA regulations for host bids require a minimum of ten stadiums of required standard, not just one. So how do England’s other stadia compare to Wembley, and will they be enough to bring the World Cup to these shores in nine years time?

The second biggest ground in England’s remit is Old Trafford, home of Manchester United. At the moment, the ‘"Theatre of Dreams" holds just over 76,000, but the club insist that renovation plans are afoot which could increase the ground’s capacity to more than 95,000.

Old Trafford, one of two grounds in England awarded Uefa’s five-star rating along with Wembley, also has excellent transport links thanks to a railway station next to the stadium, and is also serviced by Manchester’s excellent Metrolink network.

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