David Beckham is doing his bit to help out England’s World Cup 2018 bid. Russia were the favourites at the start of the day but their Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, today revealed that he will not be visiting Fifa’s headquarters in Zurich because of the ‘unscrupulous competition’. The final pitch is made on Thursday and it’s each country’s last opportunity to win vital votes, so Fifa will unlikely be impressed his no show and comments.
Beckham doesn’t think this means England have it in the bag though, claiming he knows they have to fight until the very last minute, just like he did with Manchester United.
“The last 24 hours can be the most important without a doubt,” said Beckham. “All the way through my career, especially for Manchester United, I’ve known how important it is to keep fighting to the last minute – especially in the biggest games I have played in. I know how important it is to keep going right up to the decision.”
United fans have an extra reason to care about this decision though. The South Stand is in desperate need of an increase, to lift the capacity to 90,000 and fill in the obvious gap which is missing around the stadium. Because of the railway line that runs behind the stadium, no concrete plans have ever been made because of the issues with planning permission.
However, if England were hosting the World Cup, I’m sure the FA could pull a few strings. Given this in an English bid, not a British bid, they wouldn’t be able to use the 74,500 seater Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
England – 2018?
Wembley – 90,000
Old Trafford – 75,957
Emirates – 60,355
St James Park – 52,387
Stadium of Light – 49,000
Brazil – 2014
Maracanã (Rio de Janeiro) – 76,525
Estádio Nacional de Brasília (Brasília) – 71,500
Mineirão (Belo Horizonte) – 69,950
Castelão (Fortaleza) – 66,700
Estádio Beira-Rio (Porto Alegre) – 62,000
South Africa – 2010
Soccer City (Johannesburg) – 84,490
Cape Town Stadium – 64,100
Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban) – 62,760
Ellis Park Stadium (Johannesburg) – 55,686
Is out of the question that a railway line could be moved back so work could be completed on the South Stand?
Man Utd News 24/7
bring back becks!
Well done Becks perfect analogy
That’s why they called England’s bid – England United
Can’t see it happening both the World Cup coming here or FA helping us to sort out the South Stand. Would they help us financially and also would the glazers want to increase the capacity. Which COULD mean more loans and more debt if they did. It would be nice to see OT reach 100,000 capacity. We would fill there would be enough room for day trippers and hardcore fans if the prices are right.
Why United will win the league by a non-red
“Beware the Lesser Spotted Ferguson” http://www.postmatchpint.com
great site ROM, best of luck MUFC
He really does say all the right things. If only we showed that kinda spirit yesterday at Upton Park…
I’m not sure why the FA would intervene on the issue of expanding the South Stand. Wembley is the crown jewel, there’s no pressing need to increase capacity of a ground that’s already suitable to host a semi-final.
They’d be more concerned about addressing the need to increase the capacities of the other grounds involved.
No lover of the England football team, but I do hope they get the WC, it’s been far too long.
I like how he includes United as much possible as he could in many occassions. He’s supposed to be one of those who end their careers at their favorite clubs
Didn’t realise the maracana was now only seventy six thousand capacity. Remember when it held hundred plus.
also the olympic stadium which will be west ham’s in 2012/13 will be an 80,000 all seater
It would be great if they tunnel the railway line under the south stand when they build it up,
then we would have a railway running like a vein through our stadium, linking us back to our Newton Heath roots as a railway workers club
Dunno about everyone else but gettin’ favours off the FA would feel dirty.
No thanks, let’s do it off our own backs. Russia to win the bid for 2018, Qatar for 2022.
Tisk Tisk Politics on a football blog, needing the South stand developed! lol
Good luck tommorow Becks you are doing a sterling job as you always do in these ambassador type roles.
He is just a pure charmer and growing into this type of role,I can see him in the future in the hospitality suites at Old trafford.
Good luck. It will give the whole of the UK a huge boost and football in general.
On a seperate note but in tandem with this, that shit that kicked off at the City ground Birmingham at the end of that second tier derby, ffs, shoot yourself in the foot.
Some people have fresh air between their ears.
The train track is a huge problem. It’s not just a the case of contruction issues. It is also the fact it’s the main freigth train line to Trafford park. A lot of compensation will be paid out if the line is closed or disrupted in any way. A mate of mine worked on the North stand, he said it would be cheaper to build a whole new stadium than the south stand.