England is "in line to play a World Cup warm-up game" at League Championship side Leeds United’s Elland Road as Manager Gareth Southgate "looks to rouse countrywide support" before the team travels to Russia in the summer, according to Paul Joyce of the LONDON TIMES. Negotiations are continuing, but Elland Road is "emerging as the preferred venue" of the FA for the second of two friendly matches in the build-up to Russia 2018. England has played there twice before, and is committed to going on the road, as it did before Euro 2016, "in an attempt to gain backing for Southgate's squad." A game against Nigeria at Wembley has been proposed and England will then play its second, and final, warm-up game away from the national stadium. There were discussions about a third game "but that now seems unlikely." The FA’s plan to use the 37,890-capacity Elland Road comes after other grounds, including Anfield, "were considered and discounted." Sunderland’s Stadium of Light and Man City’s Etihad Stadium were used before Euro 2016 and "there is a determination to try elsewhere" (LONDON TIMES, 12/26).
