Brazilian president Lula is ready to support England's 2018 World Cup bid.

Lula is backing the bid at the end of a week which has seen Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards resign from the 2018 bid team.

"I believe that the last one that England hosted, the first and only one was in 1966," President Lula told Channel 4 News. "And so that's already been 44 years ago that the UK hosted the FIFA cup.

"I think now is the time for the UK to host a FIFA cup again."

Lord Triesman, the Football Association chairman and leader of the bid, suggested the endorsement was significant.

"I think it's really important," said Triesman.

"He's been a huge a fan, a huge advocate of English football; he loves it.

"I remember when he made his state visit he made a joke that we might have introduced Brazil to football and taught them how to do it, but they'd become the teachers and we'd become the pupils.

"He's always had a really strong, positive view of English football.

"When he was over a couple of weeks ago and I had the chance to have a conversation with him he was clear about wanting us to have the World Cup here."