Beckham to boost England 2018 World Cup bid

Former skipper David Beckham will personally deliver England’s bid book to host the 2018 World Cup to FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Friday, bid officials said.

The handover will take place at the FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich.

Football Association and bid chairman Lord Triesman said: “It’s fantastic news that David’s schedule has enabled him to present and head our bid in Zurich.

“It is entirely appropriate that he does so as our bid is about football and the passion for it in our country.

“Nobody represents that better than David. He is a fantastic footballer and a global role model.”

Beckham, who last met Blatter in Cape Town before the World Cup draw in December, is likely to play an even bigger role in the bid after his ruptured Achilles tendon ended his hopes of playing in next month’s finals.

The bid book outlines the technical details and vision of each candidate campaigning to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Each country must present these to FIFA on Friday, with technical inspections due between July and September, and the final vote by FIFA’s executive committee on December 2.

It is expected that 2018 will go to Europe – where Russia, plus joint bids by Spain/Portugal and Netherlands/Belgium, are up against England.

The other countries expected to fight it out for 2022 are Australia, United States, Qatar, South Korea and Japan.