US line up World Cup bid - so what's the point of playing Trinidad & Tobago?

England's bridge-building trip to Trinidad this weekend has been rendered almost pointless as the Caribbean country are set to back the United States' bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

The U.S. are expected to join the running to hold the tournament and, as the only country in the North and Central American Confederation to bid (CONCACAF), they would expect support from their neighbours.

England face Trinidad & Tobago in Port of Spain on Sunday, officially to mark the 100th anniversary of the hosts' football association.

But the game was also seen as an attempt to win the votes of controversial FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, the Trinidadian who has three of the 24 votes on the FIFA executive committee and has strong influence over about 30 national associations, all of who will vote on the destination of the 2018 World Cup.

US Soccer Federation president Sunil Galati has suggested there was an appetite across the Atlantic to "finish what we started" in 1994, when the tournament was last held in the States.

"We will make a decision in the next two or three months, but we are looking at it very seriously," said Galati. "I can't think of any reasons why we wouldn't bid for the tournament.

"We've done this before and been successful at doing it. The bid process has become very competitive and whether playing a game in Trinidad has anything to do with that I am not sure.

Last time out: Steven Gerrard hits the second past Shaka Hislop in England's 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago at the World Cup two years ago

"But I think the FA are more sophisticated than to think they are going to get Jack Warner's vote on the back of playing one game. There aren't any CONCACAF bidders at this point and Mr Warner is the president of CONCACAF."

"We are determined to finish what we started in 1994. We are the most diversified nation in the world. If Nigeria and Ghana played each other, it would sell out. If Australia played Costa Rica, it would sell out. When we staged a third-placed play-off between Sweden and Bulgaria in 1994 there were 85,000 people there.

"My point is that this is not a question of fearing any country. We think we'd have a great bid, great structure and a great landscape."

Warner caused controversy last year by saying England would not be a popular choice to host the World Cup, adding: "Nobody in Europe likes England. England  invented the sport but has never made any impact on world football." But he has since softened his stance.

Warner has long been embroiled in scandal. His family were fined $1million by the FIFA executive committee over the reselling of tickets for the 2006 World Cup.

After T&T visited Scotland for a friendly four years ago, Scottish FA president John McBeth claimed Warner asked for a cheque to be made out to him personally rather than the FA.

The 65-year-old also clashed with Trinidad & Tobago players over bonus payments.