Bid is big enough for our two cities

Nov 26 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

Newcastle and Sunderland are rival cities in every sense of the word but Chief Sports Writer Luke Edwards argues their separate bids to be host cities for the 2018 World Cup can live in harmony together

THERE is little to choose between the two although those involved in the bids from NewcastleGateshead and Sunderland will be hoping the Football Association decides it does not have to.

If Newcastle has the international reputation, airport and iconic status of St James’ Park, Sunderland have the facilities, the wholehearted public support and the backing of every other club – with the notable exception of the Magpies – in the region, from Carlisle to Middlesbrough.

On the face of things, Newcastle and Sunderland are rival bids competing for the region’s right to stage the biggest football show on the planet, just as these two cities have been competing with each other, economically and socially, since the Civil War.

But for once, maybe there is no need to fight and bicker because as far as England’s 2018 World Cup bid is concerned, the North East is big enough for the both of them. According to Jérôme Valcke, the Fifa general secretary, 12 stadia, of a minimum capacity of 40,000 for the group matches, and 80,000 for the opening match and final, are required to host the Fifa World Cup finals, as well as the very highest standards of TV broadcasting, information and telecommunications technology, transport and accommodation.

As things stand, St James’ Park and the Stadium of Light would be regarded as among the best seven stadiums in the country alongside Wembley, Old Trafford, Anfield, the City of Manchester Stadium, and the Emirates.