Beckham backs England's 2018 World Cup bid
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Soccer star David Beckham was at Wembley Monday to help promote England’s bid to host the World Cup in 2018.
England hosted their only World Cup in 1966 when Sir Alf Ramsey's team won the event, but the nation's appetite for football is so strong that Beckham believes it is only right the competition should finally return 52 years after that historic victory.
"To have the World Cup in your own country is the dream of any player. I know first hand the passion of our fans and they would provide an incredible atmosphere at every game," Beckham said.
"There's no bigger support than our fans. There are full stadiums everywhere. Some of the biggest players in the world, (Zinedine) Zidane and Ronaldo, ask me what it's like to play in England. They love that passion.
"The passion doesn't just stop at Premier League level. It's from the grass-roots and the amateur leagues right through every league.
"When we stage big competitions it shows around the country how excited people get. Our country is renowed for getting excited by big events. I don't think any country in the world can compete with us for that.
"A World Cup in England would inspire a generation of younger players and capture the imagination of everyone."
Beckham, who holds the record for most appearances by an England outfield player, is hoping to build on the success he enjoyed when he helped the nation win the right to host the 2012 Olympics.
He added: "I would love to be part of another successful bid.
"When I went into the campaign to help us win the Olympics I felt a little bit out of my depth.
"I had never been involved in athletics or anything like the Olympics. It was completely out of my comfort zone and outside of my personal experience, but to be part of that and for it to be successful was unbelievable.
"This bid for the World Cup is much closer to home for me, much more on my territory.
"I’m honoured to have been invited to be a part of it and I will do my very best and work as hard as I can to try to deliver another success. Everything I am asked to do, everything I am able to achieve I will do for this cause.
"When I was a kid and even when I was a player, it wasn’t something that I thought about, being an ambassador for my country. But since I’ve been asked to do certain things and become involved in these bids, I have really enjoyed the ambassador role.
"I am in the latter stages of my footballing career and this is something I definitely want to continue when I finish playing."
England, who failed to win the race to stage the 2006 World Cup, face competition from the United States, Australia, Mexico, Russia, Indonesia and Japan, as well as possible joint bids by Spain and Portugal and the Netherlands and Belgium.
FIFA's 24-man executive committee will make the decision in December 2010.
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England hosted their only World Cup in 1966 when Sir Alf Ramsey's team won the event, but the nation's appetite for football is so strong that Beckham believes it is only right the competition should finally return 52 years after that historic victory.
"To have the World Cup in your own country is the dream of any player. I know first hand the passion of our fans and they would provide an incredible atmosphere at every game," Beckham said.
"There's no bigger support than our fans. There are full stadiums everywhere. Some of the biggest players in the world, (Zinedine) Zidane and Ronaldo, ask me what it's like to play in England. They love that passion.
"The passion doesn't just stop at Premier League level. It's from the grass-roots and the amateur leagues right through every league.
"When we stage big competitions it shows around the country how excited people get. Our country is renowed for getting excited by big events. I don't think any country in the world can compete with us for that.
"A World Cup in England would inspire a generation of younger players and capture the imagination of everyone."
Beckham, who holds the record for most appearances by an England outfield player, is hoping to build on the success he enjoyed when he helped the nation win the right to host the 2012 Olympics.
He added: "I would love to be part of another successful bid.
"When I went into the campaign to help us win the Olympics I felt a little bit out of my depth.
"I had never been involved in athletics or anything like the Olympics. It was completely out of my comfort zone and outside of my personal experience, but to be part of that and for it to be successful was unbelievable.
"This bid for the World Cup is much closer to home for me, much more on my territory.
"I’m honoured to have been invited to be a part of it and I will do my very best and work as hard as I can to try to deliver another success. Everything I am asked to do, everything I am able to achieve I will do for this cause.
"When I was a kid and even when I was a player, it wasn’t something that I thought about, being an ambassador for my country. But since I’ve been asked to do certain things and become involved in these bids, I have really enjoyed the ambassador role.
"I am in the latter stages of my footballing career and this is something I definitely want to continue when I finish playing."
England, who failed to win the race to stage the 2006 World Cup, face competition from the United States, Australia, Mexico, Russia, Indonesia and Japan, as well as possible joint bids by Spain and Portugal and the Netherlands and Belgium.
FIFA's 24-man executive committee will make the decision in December 2010.
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Related links:
Team
Personal
Also see:
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