NESSUN DORMA: THE GREATEST WORLD CUP NEVER PLAYED

On a magical Rome evening with the ancient ruins of the Coliseum bathed in wondrous light for one last time, the draw for the Greatest World Cup never played was made. To select the teams and place them in their respected groups was the founder and original President of FIFA Jules Rimet. The World Cup had been Rimet's dream, one man's vision of a competition bringing nations from across the globe together to compete for the title of world champions.

But before the main event began there was to be a musical performance by Luciano Pavarotti of his eternal classic, the chillingly beautiful Nessa Dorma. Never had there been a song that encapsulated more the sheer emotion and heartrending passion of world cup football than the great Tenor's version of No Sleep.

The final verse so apt for events soon to unfold on Italian soil.

Vanish o night!
Fade, stars!
For at dawn I shall win

And so,
from the backstreets slums of Naples to the sun-drenched beaches of Rio a world awaited in breathless excitement the naming of the sixteen squads. It was a globally co-ordinated announcement across the planet with vast crowds gathered to watch spellbound on huge monitors in every major city of the competing nations.

At a precise moment the names would appear to end months of arguments and wild-fire speculation. It was to be a footballing fiesta like no other. A time of magic and wonder, of broken hearts, happiness, glory and despair. A priceless cast unhindered by the ravages of age upon even death itself. For when dreams collide with imagination anything is possible.

This is the story of the greatest
world cup never played.

NESSUN DORMA

Argentina Brazil Italy Germany
England France Uruguay Holland
Hungary Portugal Russia Denmark
Africa Scotland Yugoslavia Spain

NAPLES: SAN PAOLO 76,000
BARI : STADIO SAN NICOLA 56,000
MILAN: SAN SIRO 85,000
TURIN: STADIO DELLE ALPI 70,000
FLORENCE: STADIO ARTEMIO FRANCHI 45,000
VERONA : MARCANTONIO BENTEGODI 42,000
GENOA: STADIO LUIGI FERRARIS 36,000
ROME: STADIO OLIMPICO 86,000

OPENING MATCH FRIDAY 8 JUNE XXXX
FINAL 8 JULY XXXX