England still has “every chance” of winning the race to host the 2018 World Cup despite the bid’s recent troubles, according to research carried out by The Independent.
The newspaper spoke to several members of the Fifa Executive Committee, which will decide the host for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, and claims that at least five members from Europe will vote for England in the first round of voting with more likely to follow as rival bids drop out.
The Uefa region has eight executive committee voters. Four of them (including England’s Geoff Thompson, plus the members from Russia, Spain and Belgium) represent bidding nations, and are expected to back their home bids in the first round. The remaining four are said to be planning to vote collectively to boost the chances of the 2018 World Cup coming to Europe.
The news follows criticism of England’s bid by high-profile executive committee member Jack Warner and a reshuffle of the board amid rumours of in-fighting and criticism of chairman Lord Triesman’s leadership.
The paper quotes “one influential figure” as saying: “It’s true that disgruntled people in various spheres relating to English football have been making noise. But based solely on objective facts, England is presenting a very strong bid – a bid that’s being well received by people who matter.
“It’s obvious England is a football nation, one with the infrastructure and stadiums, and we know it will have experience of [the] 2012 [Olympics] in terms of staging a huge international event. These facts will be important.”
American executive committee member Chuck Blazer spoke to The Independent on the record and said: “To call anyone dead at this stage is ridiculous – things are only just getting started. There’s a year to go and we’re all just revving up.”
Of England’s recent problems, Blazer added: “It’s that old curiosity of the English press feeding on itself. The England bid team are out there, they’re working, they’re doing all they can.”
