Start popping the champagne corks for Bristol has been included as a host city in England's 2018 World Cup bid.

Pinch yourself for a moment and just take it in. The prospect of the world's greatest players playing in a spanking new stadium a stone's throw from the famous Avon Gorge.

The thousands of fans who will fill the city's hotels, bars and restaurants.

And the years of marketing which could culminate in an injection far exceeding the conservative predictions of £150million into the local economy from international and domestic tourism.

England are yet to win the right to stage the 2018 tournament but, whatever the outcome, Bristol is now guaranteed a bonanza year in the biggest shop window of the marketing world - the football World Cup.

And, perhaps more importantly still, the recognition that it is worthy of a place in such an event. That it has, or could have, the infrastructure, the facilities, the transport connections and the landmarks befitting a World Cup venue.

Delegates from the Bristol bid team will now travel to Wembley on Friday to find out what the next stage has in store for the city.

The others cities selected are Sunderland, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle-Gateshead, Plymouth, Liverpool and Milton Keynes. Derby, Leicester and Hull were not selected.

England must submit its bid to FIFA in May ahead of judgement day in December when football's governing body will decide who will host the 2018 and the 2022 World Cups.

England's bid has been given fresh impetus after sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe confirmed the Government had signed off all the guarantees required by FIFA.

He said: "Signing off the guarantees at this early stage puts the bid in good shape.''

The guarantees have been agreed by all political parties and signed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

England bid chairman Lord Triesman said: "The guarantees underpin around £300million worth of financial commitment without which it would be impossible to host the tournament.

"This again demonstrates England's desire as a whole to meet and exceed FIFA's requirements and guarantees FIFA the most secure environment possible for the world's biggest sporting event in terms of security, financial, legal and commercial partner delivery.''

There are still question marks over Bristol's proposed new stadium in Ashton Vale but there is time and opportunity to resolve them.

The refusal of North Somerset Council to grant planning permission for access to the new stadium off the A370 last week will be revisited in January.

The stadia chosen for England's 2018 World Cup bid are: Sunderland – Stadium of Light; London – Wembley Stadium; Birmingham – Villa Park; Manchester – City of Manchester Stadium; Nottingham – the new Nottingham Forest stadium; London – Emirates Stadium; Leeds – Elland Road; Sheffield – Hillsborough; Newcastle/Gateshead – St James’ Park; Bristol – the new Ashton Vale stadium; London – the new White Hart Lane or Olympic Stadium; Plymouth – Home Park; Manchester – Old Trafford; Liverpool – Anfield or new Anfield and Milton Keynes – Stadium MK.

Pick up tomorrow's Evening Post for full reaction to Bristol's selection.