England are well staged to host the 2018 World Cup according to a recent study, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and Chancellor were at the new Wembley Stadium as the results of the feasibility study were announced. Chancellor Brown said the 2018 finals should be at “the nation which gave football” to the world and that “With the Olympics in London in 2012, hosting the World Cup in 2018 would make the next decade the greatest in Britain’s sporting history.”

Government ministers are now pledging to back any bid. The final decision on making any bid to be hosts lies with the English FA, which spent millions of pounds unsuccessfully bidding for the 2006 finals which eventually went to European rivals Germany.

Chief Executive of the Football Association, Brian Barwick said “Government backing is a central part of any successful World Cup bid and this study underlines this government’s commitment to bringing the world’s biggest sports events to these shores.”

Tessa Jowell said “a World Cup bid would have unqualified government support”, but “The FA will, in due course, make their decision”.

England has been looking at hosting the 2018 finals since as far back as 2005, with the rotation of World CUp Finals Africa has them in 2010 (South Africa) then South America in 2014 (Brazil) it is expected to be Europe’s turn again in 2018.

The study commissioned by the government looked at England’s stadiums and infrastructure as well as the legacy of any tournament and the economic benefits of hosting the finals. At present only six of England’s grounds are big enough. There is widespread enthusiam for the 2018 finals in England according to the study’s look at public opinion.

The Football Association have until 2010 to formally submit any bid, the decision on where to host the finals will be made later in 2010.