Boris Johnson: 2018 World Cup in England can finance the world game

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10 April 2012

England will host the most lucrative World Cup ever and generate huge sums for a global fund for poorer nations, Boris Johnson has told Fifa bosses.

The Mayor of London told Fifa president Sepp Blatter yesterday that an England 2018 tournament would be the most profitable in history and would capitalise on world-class stadiums already in place.

As he ended his mini-tour of South Africa to promote the 2018 bid, Mr Johnson told the Standard that England fans' conduct at the finals had also helped boost the country's bid to host the event.

The Mayor appeared with Princes William and Harry and David Beckham at the FA presentation at Nelson Mandela's former home in Cape Town.

They told Mr Blatter that the country's fan base, stadiums, marketing, sponsorship and ticketing expertise would make huge sums for the sport.

"An England bid would be good not just for England but for the world. It would generate huge sums and we could use that money to create a global fund for football," Mr Johnson said.

The Mayor accepted that Russia was the main rival, but claimed that England's bid was bouncing back from the row over ex-FA chief Lord Triesman's remarks about match-fixing a few weeks ago.

"It's going to be a knockdown, drag-out fight and it's going to be very tough. But compared with a month ago, things are looking a lot better," he said. "It goes without saying that we cannot be arrogant about this. No one can take for granted any right to host the World Cup and a great deal of care has gone into our case."

The Mayor heaped praise on the decision to hold the World Cup in South Africa. He said the influx of visitors and major infrastructure projects had vindicated the move. Crime in central Cape Town had plunged by 90 per cent.

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