THE region’s economy could attract as much as £50m investment if its major cities are chosen as hosts for the 2018 World Cup, it was claimed yesterday.

FA delegates are in the North- East to assess whether England would be a suitable host nation for the international football competition.

They were shown around Sunderland’s facilites, including the Stadium of Light, yesterday and are visiting Newcastle and Gateshead today.

Andrew Dixon, chief executive of the Newcastle-Gateshead Initiative, said: “We estimate that only so many people will be able to get into the stadiums but thousands more will travel over for the atmosphere.

“There will be lasting benefits for the region.

“For Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland to host the World Cup would be fantastic.”

The delegates will today visit St James’ Park, the Baltic, The Sage Gateshead and Tyneside hotels, and also study the region’s transport infrastructure to see if it could withstand a massive influx of visitors.

Yesterday, Wearside’s worldclass venues and facilities were showcased as part of Sunderland’s bid, which is being spearheaded by Sunderland AFC and the city council.

Black Cats chairman Niall Quinn said: “The opportunity to bring the World Cup to Sunderland is an opportunity that the city, and the wider North-East region in general, cannot afford to miss.

“Clearly, there is a sporting benefit, in terms of enabling people to watch the best footballers in the world on their doorstep, but bringing the World Cup to Sunderland and the North-East would be about much more than that.

“There would be massive financial benefits to the region as a whole, and obvious positive effects in terms of heritage, legacy, team work and planning.”

SAFC chief executive Steve Walton said a tremendous amount of planning and preparation has gone into the delegates’ visit.

He said: “As a club, city and region, I’m confident that we’ve got what it takes to play a significant role in England’s World Cup plans and, by utilising the best facilities across the North-East, Sunderland’s bid really is bringing the whole of the region together.

“The prospect of seeing the best footballers in the world grace the Stadium of Light is certainly a tantalising one, and we’ll be pulling out all the stops to make sure we deliver just that.”

Officials also met representatives from Middlesbrough FC, who showcased Rockliffe Hall and Rockliffe Park, in Hurworth, near Darlington, as a potential team training and base camp.

A helicopter tour gave delegates an aerial view of the area, and car maker Nissan spelled out 2018 using dozens of vehicles.