Barnes: Everton, Liverpool Grounds Would Not Fit World Cup Criteria

The possibility of hosting a World Cup in England without a Liverpool-based stadium took a step closer to becoming reality on Thursday, as 15 cities put forward their cases to stage games should England’s 2018 bid be successful.

Neither Anfield or Goodison Park would meet the required FIFA criteria for the tournament, according to 2018 vice-president John Barnes, with Everton's move to Kirkby rejected by the Government and Liverpool's Stanley Park plans hit by a number of delays.

Barnes, the former Liverpool player, said: "They need a new stadium, we always knew that.”

“When the bid [2018 World Cup] was submitted it was on the grounds of new grounds being in place, not Anfield hosting the World Cup in nine years' time."

He added: "I'm sure that would have been the case anyway because neither Anfield or Goodison would fit the criteria for hosting a World Cup.

“They would have had to have built a new stadium anyway."

The news comes after it was revealed that plans for Everton build a new stadium in Kirkby had been rejected by the government after opposition from local groups.

Alex Stamp, Goal.com

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