Anyone who has ever dreamt of lifting the World Cup will have their chance in Liverpool this year.
And thanks to Liverpool City Council wannabe soccer stars don’t have to be in Capello’s team or even in South Africa to be crowned a football world champion.
Liverpool is celebrating its role as a Candidate Host City for England’s 2018 World Cup bid by launching its own international festival of the beautiful game, backed by both Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs.
Liverpool’s World In One City Community Cup is to be held on the weekend of 22nd and 23rd May - a week after England submits its 2018 bid to FIFA - at the City of Liverpool Soccer Centre at Lifestyles Walton.
The 7-a-side, over 16, tournament will be FREE to enter and based on a FIFA World CupTM format, with players forming 32 ‘national’ teams based upon their cultural backgrounds.
The aim is for each team to include at least four players with origins in the country they are representing. Their links can go back to the birthplace of their grandparents, much like Liverpool-born goal scoring legend John Aldridge who played for the Republic of Ireland in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups.
John, who won 69 caps, said: ‘It was a godsend left by my Nan that I could play for Ireland and I was very privileged to pull on the shirt and play for the country I love so many times.
"There's many people in Liverpool who, like me, have a footballing allegiance to another nation which is why this new World In One City tournament is such a great idea - people can show pride in their country while at the same time supporting England's 2018 World Cup bid.
"Knowing Liverpool's passion for football I'm sure this tournament will be a great success. I just hope the Irish team wins!"
Everton legend Graeme Sharp, who played at the 1986 World Cup for Scotland and has made Liverpool his home, also gave his support.
He added: "I hope this will be a successful tournament that will showcase the ability of this city to welcome people from all over the world. Football is obviously very important to the people of Liverpool and we all hope that we get the chance to prove it on the massive stage - the 2018 World Cup."
Liverpool City Council is already planning to host a similar tournament for women in 2011 to celebrate the fifth FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.
Council Leader Warren Bradley said: "What better way to celebrate being an England 2018 Candidate Host City than by giving people a chance to take part in their very own World Cup.
"Football has a unique ability to cut across cultural boundaries and in Liverpool we wanted to showcase our passion for the game by staging a tournament that can unite all the different communities living in the city.
"We’re all behind England’s World Cup bid and I think our plans to take the game to the people shows how Liverpool would be a great host in 2018."
The deadline to enter a team for the World In One City Community Cup is: 5pm, Wednesday, March 31. An official draw will be held at Liverpool Town Hall in mid-April.
With more than 60 languages spoken in Liverpool, which is also home to many African, Asian and European communities as well thousands of university students from around the world, the battle to be named Liverpool’s first ‘world champions’ is expected to be hotly contested.
But there will be a huge emphasis on a friendly competition and there will be a festival atmosphere throughout the weekend, with a range of exciting events taking place.
Younger players can take part in training sessions run by Liverpool FC and Everton FC coaching staff or enjoy soccer skills demonstrations, and for spectators there will be cultural activities such as international food stalls, dance and music, as well as a wealth of information about healthy living.
England’s 2018 bid team have also added their support.
Andy Anson, England 2018 bid Chief Executive, said: “The World In One City Community Cup is a fantastic initiative and Liverpool will be an excellent host for the tournament. England is such a culturally diverse country and this is an exciting opportunity for fans from all backgrounds to get together and show their passion for football.”
The inaugural tournament, organised by Liverpool City Council and sponsored by CitySafe – Liverpool’s Crime and Disorder Reduction partnership - aims to bring communities together, celebrate Liverpool’s footballing heritage and support the city’s themed Year of Health and Wellbeing.
And supporters of the festival will be able to applaud the fact that all money raised from the weekend will go towards Radio City’s official charity ‘Cash for Kids’.
For more information, or to express an interest in registering a team, please e-mail: cohesion@liverpool.gov.uk or from Monday, March 1 fill in e-form at www.liverpool.gov.uk
PAULA JENKINS, LIVERPOOL around 1 year, 10 months ago