2018 cities announed

England 2018 have announced the Candidate Host Cities to be included in their final submission to FIFA in May 2010. The following cities will now become Candidate Host Cities for the England 2018 World Cup Bid: Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newcastle/Gateshead, Nottingham, Plymouth, Sheffield and Sunderland.

Between them, the Candidate Host Cities have made over £300m worth of financial guarantees towards a World Cup in England if the country is successful at the FIFA vote in December 2010. This funding is in addition to the £300m worth of FIFA required guarantees signed-off by the government on 15 December 2009. The decision was reached by a technical panel chaired by Brian Mawhinney and including England 2018 Chief Executive, Andy Anson, and Chief Operating Officer, Simon Johnson.

Each city was assessed on a total of 67 criteria and 82 sub-criteria with a team experts providing a written recommendation to the technical panel. During the process the cities received two inspection visits and also produced outline and preliminary bids before the final submission to England 2018 on 26 November 2009.

England 2018 Technical Director, Ian Riley, who was previously Technical Director for the South Africa 2010 World Cup Bid commented: "We've been delighted by the response of the cities to this process over the past six months. The technical team, including more than 30 industry-leading experts, has been able to build up extremely productive working relationships with the cities involved to ensure we deliver the best technical bid possible."

England 2018 Chief Executive Andy Anson added: "We thank all of the cities involved for their commitment, professionalism and enthusiasm. The passion for World Cup football demonstrated by the public during the Applicant Host City process has been staggering. It is also clear, that the whole of English football has been united behind the bid to help develop our technical submission, with support coming from the Premier League and Football League clubs through to the grassroots game. This makes everyone involved even more determined to produce the best bid possible and we are thrilled to have these Candidate Host Cities on board."

A final decision on the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be made by FIFA in December 2010 and if England are successful, FIFA will make the final decision over Host Cities and Stadiums by 2013.