As cities across England prepare for the upcoming World Cup bids some of the most hotly contested rivalries in the country will have to be put to side. Liverpool FC and Everton FC will have to work together to put forward a credible bid for the 2018/2022 World Cup. Both these clubs are fierce rivals in both the League and Cup competitions throughout the year but now both sets of fans will have to come together to help their city’s bid to host the 2018/2022 World Cup.

Liverpool’s council leader Warren Bradley has expressed the city’s interest and support of the FA’s campaign to hold the Football World Cup, he had this to say about Liverpool, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the football clubs and the city. The FA is committed in ensuring the bid document recognises how important our cities are, and are urging all people from every walk of life to support the bid.” In fact, they are urging people to support the bid so well that they have a petition set-up, wouldn’t it be a real shame if they missed out on the opportunity after all this effort? However, I can’t see Liverpool, along with its two sets of iconic stadia and its two sets of passionate fans, missing out!

Liverpool missing out could be a possibility though. Liverpool FC’s proposed stadium, “Stanley Park” has to be planned and ready before December, some reports have suggested that without “Stanley Park” Liverpool’s bid is somewhate flawed. I couldn’t disagree more. Anfield has proven that it is a stadium to compete with the best in the world and fans will relish the opportunity to sit in “The Kop” which has become such an icon to many football fans over the years. As for Goodison Park, well, I am sure that Goodison can more than stand its ground and surely nowadays, every Premier League club has a high quality stadium capable of holding an international fixture of the highest importance? Well, now that The Hawthorns is no longer a part of Premier League life, I think that may well be true.

Stanley Park could be the key to the success of a Liverpool host bid.

Can Liverpool’s infrastructure cope with a World Cup on its door step? It will have to be World Class and here are just some of the asks of the FA:

* World Class Stadia
* 21st Century Team Bases
* Transport Hubs
* Fan Parks
* Grass roots participation

Don’t ask me what 21st century Team Bases are, because I do not have a clue; possibly hotel accomodation or maybe just a good changing room, who knows? All of us know that Liverpool does have World Class Stadia in Anfield and Goodison Park and the possibility of Stanley Park being involved is even more inviting. Grass roots participation are definitely there as well, as we know, the infamous Wayne Rooney grew up playing football in his local street so for me, that counts as grass roots, especially when England has a terrible grass roots footballing society as it is.

Liverpool offers more than just football; just look at that!

The view from Merseyside is fantastic and what would England’s bid be like if there was no Liverpool involved. Empty is what I would say. Liverpool offers fans many other things to do, other than watch and play football. The city also makes people travel around the whole country and letting people embrace the whole of England, as it is, with no strings attached. Some may see this as a bad thing but I think that if we are to hold a World Cup, we have to bare all to the world. As council leader Warren Bradley said, “It is incumbent upon us all, for football supporters of all generations, to ensure that World Cup football is played in the home of domestic football – The City of Liverpool.” What an inspiration!