Jack Warner to persuade US to go for 2022 World Cup, leaving the path clear for England's 2018 bid

FIFA vice-president Jack Warner will try to persuade the USA to leave the field open for England's attempt to host the 2018 World Cup by bidding for the 2022 tournament instead.

Warner, the hugely influential president of the CONCACAF federation which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean, is broadly supportive of England's bid but admits it would be "political suicide" for him not to back a USA campaign first.

FIFA vice-president hopes to persuade the USA to bid for the 2022 World Cup

However Warner believes the USA would do better bidding for 2022 - FIFA will decide on both hosts at the same time in 2011 - and should agree a deal to stand aside.

In an interview with BBC Radio Five Live to be broadcast this evening, Warner said: "I have to convince them not to bid. It is easier for me to convince America to wait until 2022.

"I don't think they will be able to get as many of the votes as they will need for all kinds of reasons.

"I have said to England that until America gets knocked out that's where my vote will have to go.

"My message to the USA - and they don't have to listen - is to try to make a deal for 2022 and I'm quite sure that would have universal support.

"The kind of discussion I would have between England and the US is 'Will you support me in 2022?"'

Warner's backing for England was cemented by the weekend's friendly against his home country Trinidad & Tobago and he said the challenge for 2018 was to do the same in other parts of the world.

He added: "England left behind a positive impression that will last for decades and they have to replicate that in other areas."

The hosts will be voted on by FIFA's 24-man executive committee, a small electorate compared for example to the 106 members of the International Olympic Committee who decide on Olympic Games.

Football Association chairman Lord Triesman, insists a World Cup bid should focus as much on the potential legacy to the developing world as much as on personal relationships with FIFA members.

Triesman told BBC Radio Five Live: "I don't think this World Cup will be awarded on the grounds of getting the votes alone.

"There is now a real move to ask 'what legacy will this leave elsewhere?'.

"I believe we will only be competitors in the final analysis if we can offer a legacy to the third world."