By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
November 30 – After weeks of corruption allegations that have rocked their hopes of staging the 2018 World Cup, England have at last received some potentially vital good news.
They have been ranked above all their rivals in terms of the amount of profit that could be generated for FIFA.
According to a study carried out by management consultants McKinsey, World Cups held in England and the United States – the latter targeting 2022 – would deliver bigger profits to world soccer’s governing body than any of their competitors and are the only contenders that can meet FIFA’s revenue targets.
McKinsey, crucially, were commissioned not by any bidding nations but by FIFA itself to analyse each bid across five key revenue streams: sponsorship, ticketing, hospitality, licensing and media rights.
The report, entitled FIFA’s World Cup Host Candidate Assessment, has been sent to the 22 FIFA members who will decide the destinations of the two tournaments on Thursday (December 2).
It gave England an overall 100 per cent rating for 2018, followed by Spain/Portugal with 91 per cent, Netherlands/Belgium 87 per cent and Russia, in last place, with 86 per cent.
For 2022, it rated the United States top with an overall 100 per cent evaluation, followed by Japan with 73 per cent, South Korea 71 per cent, Qatar 70 per cent, and Australia on 68 per cent.
England scored 100 per cent in all five of the revenue stream areas, while the United States scored 100 per cent in four.
The survey gives a massive confidence boost to England’s hopes following the Panorama programme last night which alleged corruption at the core of football’s world governing body.
England were also given the highest rating by the FIFA evaluation inspection team during the summer.
Andy Anson, chief executive of England’s bid campaign, told a media briefing on Monday the team had been encouraged by the report.
“England comes out way ahead of its competitors in that study, and we clearly have the strongest bid for 2018 – it’s the perfect foundation,” he said.
Both England and the USA, in fact, will hope the survey can sway any wavering FIFA ExCo committee members their way.
Both candidates are trailing in the betting, England behind Spain/Portugal and Russia, the USA behind Qatar and Australia.
Meanwhile, the US bid team have announced that actor Morgan Freeman will join dignitaries including former President Bill Clinton and Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan in making the final presentation to FIFA’s voters on Wednesday.
England make their final pitch a day later, with a presentation group that includes Prince William, Prime Minister David Cameron and former skipper David Beckham.
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