Former Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United players are to participate in a football match to raise awareness of Sheffield’s host city bid for the 2018 World Cup.

The 5-a-side match will last for 20 minutes and 18 seconds and will be played at Devonshire Green as part of the city’s unique “Back the Bid Day”.

Paul Scriven, Sheffield City Council leader, said: “Back the Bid Day offers the people of Sheffield an opportunity to pledge their support for the city’s bid and help Sheffield to be a front-runner in this competition.”

Both Sheffield teams have already submitted plans for their stadiums to be included if the English bid is successful. However, as a host city, Sheffield would only be allowed to use one of the two stadiums.

The city will find out in December 2009 if they have been chosen to represent England as a host city before the final 2018 bid vote in December 2010.