Milton Keynes was originally thought to be a big outsider and was panned by various critics who among other things said the city lacked any footballing history, but the city has gone on to prove the critics wrong and stake its claim on hosting World Cup matches in 2018.

When England lifted the World Cup in 1966 Milton Keynes didn't even exist and the achievement shows just how far the city has come since its inception. The city’s bid impressed the selection panel and it is thought that the legacy the competition would leave behind was a key factor in the city being selected.

The city now faces a year-long wait until December 2010 when FIFA will announce which country will host the 2018 World Cup. Other bids are expected from Spain-Portugal, Netherlands-Belgium, Russia, Japan, USA, Australia and Indonesia.

MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman, one of the driving forces behind the bid, called the result  “…a dream come true…'.

He said: "I'm totally overwhelmed by the news and feel incredibly excited about what this means to us all. We will immediately start putting plans in place to increase the capacity of the stadium so we are ready to welcome the world's finest football players." Quote from MK Citizen.

To cope with the World Cup audience stadium:mk would be extended from its 22,000 capacity to 44,000 and the city would hold ‘fan-fests’ in Campbell Park and at the National Bowl site. It has been estimated it would cost the city £15m to host the games, but the potential revenue it would bring would be far greater.

The final Bid Book will be submitted in May 2010, after which FIFA will assess the bids, before making a decision in December 2010.

For further information visit www.england2018bid.com