England keep 2022 World Cup bid option open

England’s Football Association will bid to stage the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022, it was announced on Monday.

Countries were asked by world football governing body FIFA to bid for one of the two tournaments or submit proposals to stage both events.

The FA handed in their plans at FIFA’s Zurich headquarters on Monday.

Afterwards, England bid and FA chairman Lord David Triesman, issued a statement, saying: “Today marks another step forward on our journey to bring the FIFA World Cup to England and our team are focused on delivering the best bid possible to FIFA.

“By declaring our interest for both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments we are maximising our chances of winning the right to host the world’s greatest sporting occasion.”

England have staged the World Cup just once in their history, in 1966. That was also the only time they have won the competition defeating the then West Germany 4-2 after extra-time in the final at Wembley Stadium.