The inclusion of Bristol in England's 2018 World Cup bid would provide balance to the Football Association's bid to Fifa – but it is Manchester and Liverpool that provide the brawn.

If the England 2018 World Cup bid team grant Bristol host city status then the South West will have a much-needed venue of its own. It is the powerhouses of the North West though which will further sway Fifa delegates to vote for England to host the world's biggest sporting event.

In Manchester and Liverpool, Sheffield and Leeds, the England bid has World Cup venues oozing history and glamour and pitches worthy of household names from Rooney to Robinho.

Despite the recent successes and the extensive history enjoyed by both Bristol City and Bristol Rovers, it is the cities either side of the Pennines whose names will top the bill of England's bid and whose shirts are worn on boulevards and beaches the length and breadth of the world.

Make no bones about it, bring World Cup football to Bristol and Bristol's recognition around the world will boom, but it will always play second fiddle to the kingpins of the English game: Liverpool, five times European Cup holders with 18 league titles; Manchester United, three times European Cup holders with 18 league titles; Sheffield, home of the oldest football team in the world; and Leeds, home to Elland Road, which was built in 1897, hosted Champions League football in 2001 and is still attracting huge crowds even in League One following Leeds United's fall from grace.

MANCHESTER

Population: 440,000

Stadium: Old Trafford (76,000 capacity), City of Manchester Stadium (47,726)

Selling point: Rooney and Robinho, the home of Manchester United and Manchester City football clubs, location, size of Old Trafford. Greater Manchester also covers two more Premier League clubs – Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic.

Random fact: Manchester United won their first FA Cup in 1909 after beating Bristol City in the final at Crystal Palace.

Events held there: 1966 World Cup, 1996 European Championships, 2002 Commonwealth Games, 2003 Champions League Final, 2008 World Swimming Championships, 2008 UEFA Cup Final.

Attractions: Manchester International Festival, Peak District national park, Town Hall, Cathedral, John Rylands library, the Royal Exchange, Old Trafford tour, The Lowry.

LIVERPOOL

Population: 436,000

Stadium: Currently have Anfield and Goodison, but by 2018 plan to have a new 60,000-70,000 capacity Liverpool ground at Stanley Park and a new 50,000 capacity Everton ground at Kirkby. Both at planning stage. Outside chance of a shared stadium.

Selling point: Home to Liverpool, who have won more major trophies than any other English team including five European Cups, and Everton, who boast more seasons in the top flight than any other English team. Liverpool has had World Heritage city status conferred on it by UNESCO, European Capital of Culture 2008.

Random fact: It was a Liverpool engineer, John Brodie, who invented the goal net, first used in a match between Nottingham Forest and Bolton in 1890.

Events held there: 1966 World Cup matches at Goodison, 1996 European Championship matches at Anfield.

SHEFFIELD

Population: 530,000

Stadium: Hillsborough (40,000) and Bramall Lane (33,000), with plans to expand the latter to up to 42,000 in time for 2018. Planning permission has just been granted to increase it to 36,000.

Selling point: Home to the oldest football club in the world, Sheffield FC, formed in 1857, as well as Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United football clubs. England's fourth largest city.

Random fact: The first floodlit football match was played at Bramall Lane in 1878.

Events held there: 1966 World Cup and 1996 European Championship matches held at Hillsborough, the 1991 World Student Games, annual World Snooker Tournament, Sheffield Comedy Festival – Grin up North.

LEEDS

Population: 715,000

Stadium: Elland Road (40,000)

Selling point: Passion for sport be it football, rugby union, rugby league or cricket, Elland Road built in 1897.

Random fact: Natives of Leeds are known as Loiners.

Events held there: 1996 European Championship matches, Champions League matches in 2001, Party in the Park (UK's largest free outdoor concert), Test match cricket at Headingley, Leeds Festival. Other attractions include the Victoria Quarter, Leeds Corn Exchange, Harewood House, Headingley and Elland Road, Yorkshire Dales national park, Leeds Art Gallery.