26 February 2025 GMT: 05:10

Bin Hammam claims that England’s World Cup bid is still on track

By Duncan Mackay in Doha

November 15 – England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup is doing as well as its rivals, Mohamed Bin Hammam (pictured), the President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), said here today.

Bin Hamman, who is one of 24 members of FIFA’s Executive Committee that will choose the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments in December 2010, said that at the moment with more than a year to go until the vote that a clear favourite still has to emerge.

The Qatari said: ”Your bid is equivalent to other bidders.

“It’s going in line with other bidders.

“I really don’t see any one going aggressively ahead in the campaign; everyone is really working slowly.”

Bin Hammam, who watched Brazil beat England 1-0 in a friendly here last night, has previously publicly expressed his belief that England should host the 2018 World Cup.

He said: ”The way I see it the English are doing just as well as the other bidders.”

His words will act as a tonic for Lord Triesman, the chairman of England’s bid, who has been under pressure to resign following sustained criticism from Jack Warner, the FIFA vice-president.

Triesman reshuffled the bid Board last week and now hopes, that with only eight members, it will be more focussed.

The former Labour Minister claims that England are still the favourites.

He said: ”We have the very best chance of winning it and I still believe it is the most probable outcome.

“There is a warmth about England and the understanding of what we can do, including the revenues we can generate, which are beyond what anyone else could do.

“That is not an inconsiderable factor because FIFA’s ability to distribute money is wholly dependent on the World Cup as a commercial enterprise.

“Even Jack Warner said he was only sending us a corrective – it was a bit of an exocet corrective mind – from someone who did not start off hostile to English football.

“And I firmly believe we now have a structure in place that is directed at the elements you need to win it.”

Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1740546443labto1740546443ofdlr1740546443owedi1740546443sni@y1740546443akcam1740546443.nacn1740546443ud1740546443.