David Davies, former executive director at the English FA, recently published his tell all account of his time at the top of English football - FA Confidential.

A key figure behind several bidding processes during his 13 years at the FA, Davies believes a divide of voting for the European countries could open the door for a successful Australian campaign for the 2018 World Cup bid.

"Enthusiasm to bring the World Cup back to Europe after a gap of 12 years will be considerable, but England have their work cut out. Spain, the new European champions, may well put in a strong bid. Russia boast the necessary deep coffers to finance a bid," said Davies.

"The European block vote could be split, with Australia a likely beneficiary. Australasia have never hosted a World Cup and the legacy for 'soccer' Down Under would be immense.

"Led by Frank Lowy, the Aussies will make a compelling case for 2018."

The bids are in the race for the 2018 or 2022 World Cups are: Australia, England, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Russia, United States, Belgium/Netherlands and Portugal/Spain. With Qatar and South Korea bidding just for the 2022 World Cup.

The winner needs to get the backing of 13 of the 24 Fifa executive members. There are different stages of voting, with countries eliminated if they fail to muster enough votes to progress. With none of the bidders likely to get all 13 votes in the first or even early rounds of voting, it is the swayed votes in the later stages which will seal the World Cup.

For Frank Lowy and Australia to land the World Cup, they need to find favour with the following 24 Fifa executive members:

Joseph Blatter (Switzerland), Julio Grondona (Argentina),  Issa Hayatou (Cameroon),  Dr Mong-Joon Chung (Korea Republic), Jack Warner (Trinidad and Tobago), Ángel María Villar Llona (Spain), Michel Platini (France), Reynald Temarii (Tahiti), Geoff Thompson (England), Dr Michel D'Hooghe (Belgium), Ricardo Terra Teixeira (Brazil), Mohamed Bin Hammam (Qatar), Senes Erzik (Turkey), Chuck Blazer (USA), Worawi Makudi (Thailand), Dr Nicolás Leoz (Paraguay), Dr Viacheslav Koloskov (Russia), Junji Ogura (Japan), Slim Chiboub (Tunisia), Dr Amos Adamu (Nigeria), Marios Lefkaritis (Cyprus), Jacques Anouma (Ivory Coast), Franz Beckenbauer (Germany) and Rafael Salguero (Guatemala).