FIFA president Sepp Blatter has handed the England 2018 World Cup bid committee a big boost.

Blatter did also, however, warn that Russia will be very powerful opponents in the bidding contest, nevertheless England 2018's bid team will be buoyed by the comments at the start of the visit by a six-man FIFA inspection team.

Speaking in Singapore on Monday, Blatter told insideworldfootball.biz: "The easiest way to organise the World Cup is to go to England.

"Everything is there - fans, stadiums, infrastructure - it's easy."

He also insisted England's disappointing performances at the World Cup in South Africa this summer would have no bearing on the bid - World Cup winners Spain are also bidding jointly for 2018 with Portugal. Holland and Belgium are in the contest too, also as joint bidders.

Blatter said: "The performances of bidding countries' national teams does not matter, definitely not.

"It is the quality of their bid that matters."