Milton Keynes has joined 11 other cities on a list of candidates to host games should England win the right to stage the 2018 World Cup.
Derby, Leicester and Hull were the three casualties of the bid process announced by Football League and selection panel chairman Lord Mawhinney on Wednesday.
However, there was delight for Milton Keynes and Sunderland, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, Bristol, Plymouth, Liverpool.
'England's fortunate to have so many good stadia and I would like to congratulate all of the applicant host cities for the seven months of really hard work they have put in,' commented Mawhinney.
'We have chosen cities which present the lowest possible risk to FIFA and it's FIFA who will make the final decision.
'There will also be a lot of disappointed football fans around the country I understand that - and if I was a fan of theirs I would be just as disappointed.'
Mawhinney named 16 venues across 12 different cities. London has put forward three stadia - Wembley, Emirates Stadium and either Tottenham's yet to be built new ground or the 2012 Olympic Stadium - while Manchester has two representatives in Old Trafford and the City of Manchester Stadium.
Liverpool could host games at either Anfield or the club's proposed New Anfield ground.
Full list of World Cup bid stadia: Sunderland - Stadium of Light, London - Wembley Stadium, Emirates Stadium and new White Hart Lane or Olympic Stadium, Birmingham - Villa Park, Manchester - City of Manchester Stadium and Old Trafford, Nottingham - new Nottingham Forest stadium, Leeds - Elland Road, Sheffield - Hillsborough, Newcastle/Gateshead - St James' Park, Bristol - new Ashton Vale stadium, Plymouth - Home Park, Liverpool - Anfield or new Anfield, Milton Keynes - stadium:mk.
Source: DSG
