Monday evenings Panorama exposé saw the odds of England hosting the World Cup pushed out to 3/1 with William Hill however, following a number of three figure bets, the odds have since been cut to 11/4. Not since England first threw their name into the hat have their odds been as long.
England initially expressed their interest in hosting the 2018 World Cup back in November 2005 and they were offered at 8/1. They then started to attract some tentative bets totalling around £3000, by the time England officially announced they would be entering the race, they were 4/1 shots. In February 2007 England became odds on favourites (4/6) for the first time but by March the English bid was back out to 6/4. The English odds hovered around Evens until November 2009 when Dave Richards handed in his resignation as Chairman of the Premier League and the odds were eased out to 11/4, however the announcement of the potential English stadia saw the odds slashed to 7/4.
Since the bid was handed over by David Beckham in January of this year, England have remained favourites at one point as short as 8/11, however when the Times uncovered the FIFA cash for votes scandal Russias bid overtook them for the first time.
Englands odds have fluctuated massively over the course of the last five years but as it stands England are still our biggest loss but we would be more than happy to pay out on football coming home. In the long run, a domestic World Cup would see turnover break all World Cup betting records, said Hills spokesman Joe Crilly.
How The Odds Have Changed:
5th November 2005 Initial interest 8/1
20th January 2007 Official Bid Announcement 4/1
12th February 2007 First Odds-On 4/6
24th November 2009 Dave Richards resigns as Chairman of the Premier League 11/4
7th January 2010 Potential English Stadia announced 7/4
12th May 2010 David Beckham hands over Bid book 11/10
12th June2010 Back to odds on 5/6
17th October 2010 Times Exposé 11/8
29th November 2010 Panorama 3/1
William Hill World Cup Odds:
2018 Bid: 4/6 Russia; 11/4 Portugal & Spain; 11/4 England; 20/1 Belgium & Holland
25/1 England Host and Win the World Cup in 2018
Further Information…Joe Crilly…07850 518 164 / 0208 918 3746
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