Thaindian News

London, Aug 23 (IANS) England’s bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup received a boost with world football governing body’s chief Sepp Blatter admitting that organising the 2018 World Cup will be the easiest in England.

Russia is being seen as England’s biggest rivals while Spain and Portugal, Holland and Belgium are also in the contest as joint bidders.

Blatter clarified that England’s performance in this year’s World Cup will have no bearing on their bid to host the 2018 edition.

“The easiest way to organise the World Cup is to go to England. Everything is there - fans, stadiums, infrastructure - it’s easy,” Blatter was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph.

“You cannot deny a country like Russia if they bid for something. They are more than a country. They are a big continent, a big power. The performances of bidding countries’ national teams does not matter. It is the quality of their bid that matters,” he said.

The FIFA inspection team, led by Chilean federation president Harold Mayne-Nicholls and including South Africa’s World Cup organising chief Danny Jordaan, will meet deputy British Prime Minister Nick Clegg at a reception at Downing Street.

Clegg will be talking about England’s commitment towards hosting a successful World Cup bid.

“I am delighted to welcome the FIFA inspection team to Downing Street and to have the chance to communicate the Government’s 100 per cent backing for the world-class bid which the England 2018 bid team has put together,” said Clegg.

Brazil will host the 2014 World Cup.