YORK has been earmarked as a possible fan-zone should England win the right to host the football World Cup in 2018.

Officials from Leeds, Sheffield and Hull have all independently contacted York’s civic leaders, wanting to team up for the event.

They see York as an ideal “hub” for visiting spectators. One possibility could be for the city to become a “fan-zone”, with matches televised on big screens for those supporters unable to get tickets.

Andrew Waller, leader of City of York Council, said: “York has been invited by Leeds and Hull and Sheffield to be a hub to host some World Cup tourists.

“York could be a hub from the point of view of having people such as tourists and journalists staying. It is York’s hotel space that is being talked about.”

Hull, Leeds and Sheffield are among 16 cities that have applied to host matches should England win the World Cup race. It is up against eight other countries, and football’s governing body FIFA is due to make a decision late next year.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of the tourism body Visit York, said: “Bringing the World Cup to Yorkshire would be an immense coup for the region and would offer many opportunities for York.

“If the bid were to be successful, then Visit York would work with Welcome To Yorkshire to capitalise on any opportunities this may bring, by extending the length of stay of both visitors and participants, encouraging overnight stays in York and further afield in Yorkshire. The excellent road and rail links mean we’re easily accessible from across the region, so York’s hotels, shops, attractions, restaurants and bars could also benefit hugely from this event.”

Fan-zones have become a common feature of major tournaments, with several special supporters’ villages being set up in Germany during the 2006 World Cup.

A similar zone was also set up in Manchester last year, when Glasgow Rangers met Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Cup Final, but there was widespread violence after the Scottish club lost 2-0.

Yorkshire hosted matches when England last staged a major football tournament, the 1996 European Championships, with games taking place at Leeds United’s Elland Road and Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough grounds. Hillsborough also hosted matches when England last held the World Cup in 1966, including the quarter-final between West Germany and Uruguay.