Australia was given a ranking of just 68 percent compared to the USA's 100 percent score in five revenue areas: ticketing, TV and media rights, sponsorship, hospitality and merchandise/licensing.

The report by management consultants McKinsey has been sent to all the 22-man FIFA executive committee who will vote on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts on Thursday.

Among the 2022 bidders, USA was 100% overall, Japan 73%, South Korea 71%, Qatar 70% and Australia 68%.

England also scored 100 percent, better than any of their 2018 rivals, Russia, Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Holland.

The McKinsey report, titled FIFA's World Cup Host Candidate Assessment, gave an overall rating to England of 100%, Spain 91%, Holland/Belgium 87% and Russia 86%.

England and the USA's standing will come as a big boost to the bid after BBC Panorama last night accused three FIFA members of corruption and another of ticket touting.

All four European bidders scored 100% for TV and media rights, but England really outscored Russia when it came to hospitality - Russia was only rated at 56%.

England was also rated as the highest, jointly with Spain/Portugal, by FIFA's technical evaluation of the bids.

England 2018 chief executive Andy Anson told a news conference yesterday: "FIFA gave us a very strong evaluation and have just published an economic study which puts England way ahead of its competitors.

"If you combine the two, we clearly have the strongest bid. It's the perfect foundation."