: Tue Jun 24, 2008 12:05 pm  

Probably depends how FIFA define "cities" - if you go by unitary authority then both OT and CoM could be used, although if you took the wider view you'd struggle to argue that they aren't both in what is widely perceived as Manchester.

: Tue Jun 24, 2008 12:11 pm  

bramleyrhino wrote:

It's a little bit more complicated than that.

You are only allowed one city to have two host venues. London will probably have Wembley and The Emirates which would probably rule out the City of Manchester Stadium.

That said, it'd be interesting if Everton do end up moving to Kirkby.

But then you could just replace the COM with Villa Park without too much problem, and there a few other 40k+ grounds anyway

: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:17 pm  

There are plenty of them no question.

Master Bates has sounded out a few upgrades of Elland Road which, by coincidence I'm sure, will be completed before 2018

[Matt_Horton]

: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:31 pm  

Derby have a stadium that is up to scratch as well.

: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:41 pm  

new zealand could share the world cup with us

: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:15 pm  

Oldham Rhino wrote:

Derby have a stadium that is up to scratch as well.

There are plenty of new ones on the horizon on as well.

Birmingham hope to have a new, impressive looking, 50,000 all-seater gaff by that time

: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:18 pm  

Oldham Rhino wrote:

Derby have a stadium that is up to scratch as well.

Not at present. Don't FIFA impose a minimum 40,000 criteria for the stadiums as well as the one stadium, one city rule?

At the moment we have stadiums that fit the bill in

London
Manchester
Birmingham
Liverpool
Leeds
Newcastle
Sunderland

That's seven with five cities/towns needing upgraded stadiums.

Possibly Sheffield, Derby, Middlesbrough, Leicester and Southampton??

: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:18 pm  

fredie wrote:

new zealand could share the world cup with us

A co-confederation World Cup? Not a chance.

: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:24 pm  

D.D. wrote:

Not at present. Don't FIFA impose a minimum 40,000 criteria for the stadiums as well as the one stadium, one city rule?

At the moment we have stadiums that fit the bill in

London
Manchester
Birmingham
Liverpool
Leeds
Newcastle
Sunderland

That's seven with five cities/towns needing upgraded stadiums.

Possibly Sheffield, Derby, Middlesbrough, Leicester and Southampton??

Not certain, but I think Hillsborough just gets 40k in. As mentioned before, you can have 2 stadiums in 1 city, so that's another one in as well, probably the Emirates.

: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:25 pm  

Lord_Percy wrote:

Not certain, but I think Hillsborough just gets 40k in. As mentioned before, you can have 2 stadiums in 1 city, so that's another one in as well, probably the Emirates.

Just googled it, Hillsborough holds 39,812. Don't think it would take too much work to get the extra 188 seats in!