England’s 2018 World Cup bid has earned the backing of the world’s biggest footballing nation in the lead up to the draw for the 2010 tournament.

Brazil, who have already been chosen to host the 2014 event, has supported England’s bid with President Lula claiming that England should succeed. The support is great news to England as South American nations are well known for backing bids due to football reasons and not political ones.

The news arrives during the lead up to the 2010 World Cup draw which will be attended be Fabio Capello and David Beckham. The FA are relying on both men to open doors with the 24 voters that will also be in attendence.

President Lula said: “I believe that the last one that England hosted, the first and only one was in 1966. And so that’s already been 44 years ago that the UK hosted the Fifa cup. I think now is the time for the UK to host a Fifa cup again. The soccer that England has been presenting and the capacity of their clubs and by the competitive insurance for finance and investments I believe that England will always have the competence and will always be a country that will have a great force, great strength to win bid for the Fifa cup.”

England bid leader, Lord Triesman, added: “I think it’s really important. He’s been a huge a fan, a huge advocate of English football; he loves it. I remember when he made his state visit he made a joke that we might have introduced Brazil to football and taught them how to do it, but they’d become the teachers and we’d become the pupils. He’s always had a really strong, positive view of English football. When he was over a couple of weeks ago and I had the chance to have a conversation with him he was clear about wanting us to have the World Cup here. So it’s so welcome and I’m delighted he’s made it.”