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England World Cup bid was 'strongest'

Harold Mayne-Nicholls assesses the Qatar 2022 World Cup bid back in 2010 © Getty Images

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A FIFA official has said England's failed bid to host the 2018 World Cup was "by far the strongest contender".

Harold Mayne-Nicholls, a former Chilean football federation president, was chairman of a FIFA group tasked with assessing the feasibility and strength of each bid for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals.

Having visited all 11 countries vying to host the tournament, Mayne-Nicholls concluded that England had the best facilities and public support, vital components for a World Cup host nation.

"How could England have only got two votes [from a possible 22]? It was a big surprise," he told the Sunday Times.

After England were knocked out in the first round of voting, Russia won the right to host the 2018 tournament and Qatar controversially secured the 2022 cup.

"England were on the top," said Mayne-Nicholls, 53. "They had the best concept, the best infrastructure and the people were very much involved.

"I was there and I saw the faces of Prince William and [David] Beckham, and they were shocked. It's like when you are a first division team and you play a third division team and you lose by five goals."

Mayne-Nicolls' group labelled Qatar as the only 'high risk' option back in 2010, identifying the searing heat as dangerous to fans and players. He was also critical of the country's poor transport and infrastructure.

"It is a real possibility that lots of people cannot get to the games," he said.

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