Bristol is just one of 15 cities competing to be part of England's bid to stage the 2018 World Cup.

So who are our rivals, what do they offer and how does Bristol compare?

The 15 nationwide applicants are: Birmingham, Bristol, Derby, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Man chester, Milton Keynes, Newcastle & Gateshead, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Sunderland.

Bristol may have a unique position as the only city in the West to put its hat in the ring for 2018 but it faces competition from Milton Keynes and Portsmouth in the south of England. London is a certainty for inclusion due to the crown jewel of England's bid, the 90,000-seat Wembley Stadium, which would surely host the final.

Manchester is another city virtually guaranteed a role with the presence of Old Trafford (76,000) and the City of Manchester Stadium (48,000). Manchester United's ground would be likely to host one of the semi-finals which must be staged in a stadium with 60,000 seats or more. The new Anfield or the Emirates could stage the other semi.

Bristol will hope to avoid the battle of the Midlands which sees Birmingham, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester competing for the right to bring World Cup football to England's central swathe and also the showdown in the North East with Hull, Newcastle and Gateshead and Sunderland.

In an ideal world Bristol, Portsmouth and Milton Keynes would all be included, but the England bid team are likely to cull at least three of the candidates to create a fighting pool of 12 cities to put forward to FIFA in their bid and no city is guaranteed a place – with the probable exception of the capital. The bid team will decide in December after another round of visits in September and receipt of a final bid from each city in November.

PORTSMOUTH

Population: 196,000.

Slogan: "People. Passion. Pride."

Stadium: Portsmouth FC planning redevelopment of new ground to push capacity up to 30,000. A planning application is due to be submitted this summer with work due to start in November. A new stadium on Horsea Island is proposed for 2018, with a planning application to be made in the next two years.

Selling point: Southern- most applicant, waterfront, Premier League team Portsmouth FC.

Random fact: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of Sherlock Holmes, was Portsmouth Football Club’s first goalkeeper.

Events held there: Premier League football, The Volvo Ocean Race and Trafalgar 200.

Attractions: Spinnaker Tower, HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose.

No. of visitors each year: Seven million.

Transport links: Southampton International Airport, ferry links, M27/M3 to London, major train station and bus/coach station.

MILTON KEYNES

Population: 230,000.

Slogan: “Open for the world”

Stadium: Stadium:MK. Holds 22,000 with a planned expansion to 31,000 and the potential to be expanded to hold 43,000.

Selling point: The only South East applicant aside from London, League One team MK Dons, one of Europe’s fastest growing cities and the only town to apply for host city status.

Random fact: More bridges than Venice and home to the ‘keepy-uppy’ record holder Dan Magness (208,000).

Events held there: England U21 football matches, Guinness Premiership Rugby (Saracens v Bristol), 20:20 cricket, HQ city for Cycling Tour of Britain, concerts at MK Bowl (Robbie Williams and Michael Jackson), festivals such as The Big Moo, Music4U, Urban Beach Tour and various outdoor film festivals, concerts and art events.

Attractions: Xscape indoor ski slope, Woburn safari park and Bletchley Park where the Enigma code was broken.

No. of visitors each year: Three million.

Transport links: Just off the M1, bus/coach station, on the London to Birmingham train line, 30 minutes’ drive from London Luton airport.

BRISTOL

Population: 416,000.

Slogan: “Come and Play”

Stadium: Application submitted for planning permission for a new 30,000 seat Bristol City stadium at Ashton Vale to be completed by summer of 2012 with potential to be expanded on a temporary or permanent basis to 42,000.

Selling point: Gateway to the West, two Football League teams (Bristol City and Bristol Rovers), massive amateur football scene, history of staging big events.

Random fact: Largest single league played in one place on the Downs.

Events held here: Banksy v Bristol Museum (100,000 visitors in first three weeks), Ashton Court music festival and Balloon Fiesta, Harbour festival (250,000 visitors in a weekend), St Pauls Carnival (100,000 visitors in one day), one-day cricket internationals, New Zealand v Tonga in the Rugby World Cup 1999, Women’s International T20 Cricket World Cup 2009, Glastonbury festival, UK School Games 2008, World half marathon Championships 2001.

Attractions: Clifton Suspension Bridge, SS Great Britain, Ashton Court, the waterfront, the Downs.

No. of visitors each year: Nine million.

Transport links: On the junction of the M5 and the M4, two major train stations, bus/coach station and Bristol International Airport.