Reply With QuoteNot a big blow in my opinion. The World Cup will still be coming to England in 2018.
England's 2018 bid hopes have been dealt a blow after it was reported that South America's three FIFA members will all vote for Spain/Portugal.
Although they had been expected to vote for the Iberian bid this is the first confirmation - and England international president David Dein has visited Paraguay this week in the hope of persuading at least one, Nicolas Leoz, to back England.
The South American position was confirmed by their federation CONMEBOL's general secretary Eduardo Deluca, according to reports.
It confirms Spain/Portugal's status as the new pace-setters for the 2018 World Cup and explains why bid chief executive Miguel Angel Lopez claimed they already have as many as eight of the 22 FIFA votes in the bag.
England look to be up against it as things stand, with perhaps only four first-round votes to count on. They would have to hope to beat Russia and Holland/Belgium and then bring those votes on board to beat Spain/Portugal in the vote in Zurich on December 2.
TEAMtalk | Football | Latest Football News, Results and Fixtures - South American blow to bid
Not a big blow in my opinion. The World Cup will still be coming to England in 2018.
Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City
The Spain/Portugal bid is said to have 8 of the 22 votes if so that almost half the votes and gives them advantage in the vote against the bids from England, Russia and Netherlands/Belgium
Not really a blow, CONMEBOL was expected to vote for Spain/Portugal.
Russia is the bookies favourites. FIFA want to take the World cup to less familiar places.
I've never seen the world cup in russia before
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