Royal Navy Carriers Could Host 2030 World Cup Games

It's understood that the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers could be part of a bid by the FA for the 2030 World Cup.

Putting the two vessels forward as potential secure venues to host matches between politically hostile nations could give an England bid the advantage over its rivals.

The ships would likely be moored in the Solent for the duration of the event but could even be anchored in the Thames off London - as was HMS Ocean during the 2012 Olympics.

Vice Admiral A.W Hopper said "Matches needing to be played behind 'closed doors' have always posed a challenge for the police and security services - holding games on the flight decks of the Royal Navy's biggest ships is a fantastic solution."

Green keepers say that providing an appropriate playing surface should not pose a problem, with the perfectly flat surface normally used by fighter jets taking off and landing - easy to turf and with great drainage.

Teams would dramatically arrive at pitch side via the carrier's two aircraft lifts, with limited seating for corporate sponsors located on the ship's 'Ski-jump'.

Sponsorship could prove very lucrative for the Admiralty, with any deal to repaint the vessels for the duration of the tournament potentially recouping hundreds of millions of pounds of the ships estimated £6.2 billion cost.

Should the carriers be needed for more traditional navy operations they could sail in a matter of hours - their aircraft already hangered below deck and the pitch rapidly turfed over the side by the 1600 strong crew.

Happy April everyone.