Goal 2018? !!!

[Is it too early to start planning? Article reprinted in its entirety from The Guardian, in conjunction with Goal 2010!, CCAI's exhibition of World Cup fine art posters at its Courthouse Gallery. On view through September 10.]

England's World Cup bid 'unbeatable', Nick Clegg tells Fifa team
• 'England can host a fantastic World Cup' Fifa delegation is told
• 'Few countries can beat us for passion' says Clegg

Nick Clegg today highlighted England's "unbeatable bid" as he met the Fifa team assessing the country's suitability to host the 2018 World Cup.

Welcoming the delegation to Downing Street, the deputy prime minister emphasised the coalition government's commitment to the bid.

"I believe this is an exceptionally strong, unbeatable bid. We in this government believe in it, we hope that you will believe in it," Clegg told the inspection team.

"Our job during your visit is to show you that we already have the infrastructure and facilities to host a fantastic World Cup.

"I'm an MP from a city, Sheffield, which is one of the many cities hoping to host some games during the World Cup and I know from that city that the excitement and the passion which is behind this bid really is very considerable."

He said the tournament would have the power to "inspire so many people" across England. "I think there really are very few nations that can claim the same passion we have in England for the game of football," he said.

Clegg welcomed the international delegation to No10 because David Cameron, the prime minister, is on holiday.

Downing Street, however, rejected suggestions that Cameron should have broken off the trip with his family to Cornwall to meet the Fifa team.

"The nature of the visit is technical. The prime minister is fully behind the bid and will be involved as the bid progresses," Cameron's official spokesman said.

The Fifa team is led by Harold Mayne-Nicholls, president of the Chile Football Federation, who said it was a "real honour" to be in No10 and promised to look objectively at the bid.

"We will work hard with the local organising bid committee to be in the position to write a very fair and complete report to the executive members of Fifa," he said. "We promise you that we will do our best to have a very objective report."

[screen grab from August 23 Guardian online. Click on image to enlarge.]