Plymouth makes strong case for 2018 bid

ESPN Soccernet has been told Plymouth is the shock contender to host World Cup ties should England's 2018 bid prove successful.

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Wembley is the focal point of England's bid

Sixteen venues - Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Gateshead, Sunderland, Bristol, Nottingham, Derby, Hull, Leicester, Milton Keynes, Plymouth, Portsmouth, London and Sheffield - have entered bids to be hosts.

Plymouth has put forward a highly impressive submission and must be considered a possibility despite the enormous competition from traditionally big football areas such as London, Manchester, the Midlands, the North East and Merseyside.

An FA insider told ESPN Soccernet: "The bidding cities finalise their submission by the end of this month and the selection process starts in mid-December. We have had some fabulous submissions, which have included some imaginative ideas, such as fun parks and special needs for the disabled.

"We would have to say that Plymouth's submission is extremely ambitious and there are impressive plans from the club for a new stadium. One of the aims is to spread the games across the country and, if Plymouth were to be successful, it would be a plus point geographically."

By May 14 next year, the FA must have filed its bid books with FIFA, detailing stadiums, transport, infrastructure and security, as well as Government backing. In June and July 2010, FIFA will hold executive visits to bid nations in order to carry out inspections.

Fifa's 24-man executive committee will make a final decision the following December as the host nations are determined for both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

Plymouth may not have a great deal of World Cup history, but it can boast the man who took New Zealand to the finals in South Africa. Argyle striker Rory Fallon was the All Whites' hero as his goal settled the two-legged intercontinental play-off against Bahrain.