FIFA president Sepp Blatter will pay a visit to Downing Street today to meet Prime Minister David Cameron as England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup gears up for the final phase of the bidding contest.

Blatter met deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in the summer but has now accepted an invitation to meet Cameron face to face at Number 10.

The FIFA president will watch a presentation on England’s bid and will meet Government ministers as well as several football figures and bid ambassadors.

FIFA’s 24-man executive committee will vote on the 2018 and 2022 hosts on December 2.

England 2018 chairman Geoff Thompson said:

“The Prime Minister spoke with president Blatter shortly after taking office to reiterate the British Government’s support for the bid and to invite him to Downing Street.

“We are delighted the FIFA president has accepted and we are honoured that he and FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke will be visiting England so close to the decision in December.

“We will take this opportunity to provide first-hand evidence of England’s passion for the game and confirm our intention to produce a commercially successful FIFA World Cup that creates a new global fund to provide benefits across the world for many generations to come.

“It will be a tremendous show of support from across the country and we are grateful to the Prime Minister for allowing this meeting to take place.”

Thompson said the meeting would be used to emphasise legacy plans that are key elements of the England bid.