Blatter to meet Cameron at Downing Street

By Andrew Warshaw in London

October 10 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter is on the verge of meeting British Prime Minister David Cameron (pictured) as England steps up its bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

Blatter’s exact schedule is being kept under wraps for security reasons, but England bid chiefs have confirmed he will visit 10 Downing Street this week and are laying on a number of 2018 ambassadors as part of a major charm offensive.

“It will give us an opportunity to get the message across that the World Cup here is a World Cup for the world,” said England 2018 chief executive Andy Anson.

“Mr Blatter knows we can deliver a great technical and commercial bid but we want to convince him that having the tournament here will also deliver significant value to FIFA.”

It is not yet known if Blatter’s trip to London will take in England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro, but it is regarded as crucial by the England bid team.

Cameron was criticised in some quarters for his decision not to host the FIFA technical delegation in August but with the vote taking place on December 2, Anson hopes he can perform the same task as former Prime Minister Tony Blair did in the latter stages of securing the 2012 London Olympics.

“He will be playing a very significant role in the last eight weeks in terms of contacting FIFA Executive [Committee] members but this is the first demonstration of that,” said Anson.

For the first time since campaigning began, England went head to head with their four 2018 rivals last week, sharing the same political-style podium at the Leaders in Football conference in London when each contender had 90 seconds to answer eight pre-prepared questions.

While underdogs Holland and Belgium put on the most engaging performance in front of several prominent FIFA voting members, Anson is confident England have moved ahead in the lobbying stakes, with legacy top of the agenda.

Five FIFA Executive Committee members were wined and dined straight after Leaders in Football and in the latest initiative, all 20 Premier League managers, representing seven different countries, have joined forces to back the English campaign.

Sir Alex Ferguson promised any fan coming to England for the tournament would become part of the Manchester United “family” while Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said England would create a “fantastic atmosphere for fans and players alike“.

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