British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will meet the President of world football's governing body FIFA, Joseph S. Blatter, on Wednesday, to discuss a possible bid by England for the 2018 World Cup finals.

Blatter is attending the 150th anniversary celebrations of Sheffield FC, the world's oldest football club, and will stop off in London first for talks at Downing Street.

Richard Caborn, Brown's FIFA World Cup ambassador, said: "This will underline the Government's commitment to supporting the Football Association on any bid they may make for 2018, should FIFA allow that to happen."