Lineker, an England 2018 bid ambassador, said that the previous two tournaments had suffered from some negative tactics but that the atmosphere in the English stadia would help the flow of the game.

Lineker told reporters at the Leaders in Football conference in London: "I think it would be great for the game of football to have the World Cup in England.

"I think we would have a really good tournament in this country because of the passion we evoke from the stands and that can sometimes help the flow and the attacking nature of football.

"That's important because the last couple of World Cups at times have been a little bit on the negative side.

"These are all issues that I think FIFA will have to think about.

"The 2006 World in Germany Cup was a great party atmosphere and I'm sure it would be a similar feeling in England. We would be determined to make it a real festival of football.

"Economically we are a very viable bid. After a couple of World Cups in countries where they have massive infrastructure issues it would be nice maybe to have a safe pair of hands in 2018 and England would be that."

FIFA confirmed today that president Sepp Blatter has accepted an invitation from Prime Minister David Cameron to meet him in Downing Street next week.

England 2018 chief executive Andy Anson said: " They will talk about the bid and the FIFA president will hear about the Prime Ministers's strong backing for us - David Cameron mentioned it in his speech today [at the Conservative Party conference].

Earlier, Anson had singled out the enforced resignation of Lord Triesman as bid chairman as the biggest challenge the bid team has had to deal with.

Anson said Triesman's resignation after newspaper revelations came about in "rather peculiar circumstances" the week after England 2018 had had a positive reaction to their bid book launch.

He would not comment when asked about possible conspiracy theories, however.