New British PM backs England 2018 cup bid

Britain's new Prime Minister David Cameron threw his weight Friday behind England's bid to host football's World Cup in 2018.

Cameron, who took office this week following close-fought elections, said he had spoken to FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Thursday, on the eve of England's bid presentation in Zurich.

"He said that this country has great infrastructure and facilities and has a history of delivering great major sporting events like Euro 96; he said people in England were fully behind the bid."

England star David Beckham and Australian football chief Frank Lowy were the first of the nine candidates to hand in their nations' bids to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 to FIFA in Zurich on Friday.

They were due to be followed by the Netherlands and Belgium, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Russia, Spain and Portugal, and the United States in official ceremonies at the world governing body's headquarters.