The very thought will be enough to send shudders down the spine of those who know it as Twickers or HQ, but the home of English rugby union has emerged as a possible venue for World Cup football in 2018.
The team co-ordinating England’s bid to host the tournament have still to settle on a definitive list of at least 12 venues, but Twickenham, in southwest London, which has not staged a football match since opening its doors to rugby union in 1909, is among the stadiums that are under consideration, along with more established venues such as Wembley, Old Trafford, Villa Park and the Emirates Stadium.
However, no discussions have taken place with the Rugby Football Union (RFU), which owns and operates Twickenham and which might not allow its stadium to be used even for such a prestigious football event.
With a capacity of 82,000, Twickenham, after Wembley, is the second-largest stadium in Britain, but it has extra appeal in that it has extensive corporate and media facilities as well as the scope for further temporary facilities. Many of the leading football stadiums, such as Anfield and St James’ Park, are not so well situated in this regard, which is one reason why Twickenham is under serious consideration.
In the bid registration document, which was sent to the 11 prospective host nations this week, Jérôme Valcke, the Fifa general secretary, wrote that “approximately 12 stadiums, with minimum capacities of between 40,000 for group matches and 80,000 for the opening match and final, are required to host the Fifa World Cup, which is expected to be contested by 32 teams. In addition, the very highest standards of TV broadcasting, information and telecommunications technology, transport and accommodation are an absolute must.”
Andy Anson, the chief executive of England 2018 Ltd, expressed a cautious optimism in Zurich this month about the strength of the bid that his team were preparing, but he is aware from the experience of the ill-fated 2006 effort that there must be great substance as well as style.
In addition to the infrastructure and a desire to impress Fifa with plans for a legacy, the issue of venues is an important one, with thought having been given to hosting matches in Bristol, Nottingham and Portsmouth if grand plans for impressive new stadiums in those cities are delivered.
Jack Warner, a member of the 24-man Fifa executive committee, which will vote in December next year on where the 2018 and 2022 tournaments will take place, suggested last summer that England has the facilities and infrastructure to host a World Cup “at the drop of a hat”, but the list of potential venues is likely to evolve as clubs such as Everton, Liverpool, Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as Bristol City and Nottingham Forest, try to progress with their plans to relocate to new stadiums.
Another possible doubt about Twickenham’s candidacy surrounds two of the leading venues, Wembley and the Emirates Stadium, also being in London. Previously, Fifa has restricted host nations to a maximum of two venues a city, but that limit may be lifted before 2018.
England face competition from ten rival bids, even though it is expected that some will eventually set their sights on the 2022 tournament. There are two joint bids — from Spain and Portugal and from the Netherlands and Belgium — along with those from Russia, the United States, Mexico, Australia, Japan, Qatar, South Korea and Indonesia.
Bidding deadlines
March 16 Deadline to submit the bid registration form to Fifa December 11 Deadline to submit the bidding agreement to Fifa
May 14, 2010 Submission to Fifa of the bid book, the signed hosting agreement and all other hosting documents
December Announcement of the host countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments
(Source: Timesonline.co.uk)
