England should go out and mingle to host 2018

SA World Cup chief Danny Jordaan believes England's bid to host the 2018 tournament could rest upon its officials attending soccer events around the world. Jordaan, who clinched the 2010 World Cup for South Africa, said that was the only way England could turn the global appeal of the Premier League into votes.

"I have visited every single confederation and every tournament, the Copa America, everything. England was not there," Jordaan said of England's doomed bid for the 2006 World Cup.

"It is a challenge. If England is a global player, you must engage the world beyond the bid," Jordaan said at the Soccerex international conference on business and soccer.

England's 2018 bid ambassador, Richard Caborn, said he would do his utmost not to repeat the errors of the past. England has been previously perceived as "arrogant" in believing it has a divine right to stage the World Cup as the inventor of the game.

"I look at the failed bid document for 2006 every day in my office and we do not want to make the same mistakes again," Caborn said.

Up to nine countries have shown interest in hosting the 2018 World Cup. FIFA president Sepp Blatter wants to treat the bidding nations like their national teams - make them qualify for the final vote.

Likely candidates besides England include the United States, Mexico, Canada, Belgium and Netherlands as a joint bid, Spain, Russia, China, Japan and Australia.

Sapa-AP