Football fans around the country were left disappointed today after FIFA handed the 2018 World Cup to Russia.
A series of strong presentations from the Prime Minster, David Cameron, HRH Prince William and David Beckham left many feeling hopeful this morning, but by the time FIFA’s executives’ votes were counted, England was out in the first round.
Potential host cities have been left disappointed by FIFA’s decision to overlook England’s bid. The cities that had been selected to host matches were:
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- Leeds
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Milton Keynes
- Newcastle
- Nottingham
- Plymouth
- Sheffield
- Sunderland
FIFA executives awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, beating off the challenge from the USA.
The failure to land the prestigious tournament is a huge blow to the tourism industry. It has been estimated that hosting the World Cup could boost the UK economy by as much as £3.2 billion.
