Birmingham City’s new 62,000-capacity stadium, which the club are planning to have ready in time for the 2030-2031 season, is also included.
The FA’s CEO Mark Bullingham said: “When we look at 16 host cities spread across the UK, 63 million people live within two hours of a match venue that we’re proposing, so we think it brings together the whole country and some of the most recognisable cities and stadia that we have.
“We’ve also included some stadia that have not been built. We’ve done that really consciously to make a confident statement that in 10 years these stadiums will be among the best in the world, and that if they’re built, then we obviously want them eligible for inclusion.
“Old Trafford is one of the ones that hasn’t been built, in the same way that Birmingham hasn’t. From the early plans, they could be really exciting. If they are built, we’d obviously want them included in the tournament.”
The 22 stadiums are likely to be cut down to around 16 while many on the list are going through redevelopment. The Emirates, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Everton’s Dickinson Hill have all been included, as has the Principality in Cardiff and Hampden Park in Glasgow.
The tournament would involve 104 matches contested by 48 teams over 39 days, with 48 team base camp training sites, 82 venue-specific training sites and 32 Fifa Fan Festival Sites proposed.
Five interesting stadiums that make up the UK’s bid
Manchester United’s new 2bn project
According to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United’s new stadium will be a destination that rivals the Eiffel Tower. The aim is for the proposed 100,000-capacity venue to be the world’s best stadium, so it is no surprise the home nations want it to be considered as part of their bid once plans are finalised.
Ratcliffe has been accused of a lack of interest and apathy towards United’s women’s team and women’s football in general but he is also a businessman and there would indeed be money to be made from hosting an England game at a World Cup.
The early proposals show three giant masts and a 104-square-metre glass and steel canopy that will keep fans dry whether they are inside or out. That would be music to the ears of those countries who associate Manchester and the UK with rain.
Given the Lionesses sold out Old Trafford during the last home tournament, it would make sense for England to play at least one of their games there.
