FIFA vice-president Jack Warner believes the 'time has come' for England to
host another World Cup.
Warner had initially said he was against FIFA's decision to change the
rotation rules which would enable Europe to host the tournament in 2018.
The 65-year-old had also been previously claimed England would be unlikely to
win the race to stage the showpiece in 10 years' time.
But Warner, who is also president of the CONCACAF executive committee, has now
come out and said England deserve to host the tournament having lost out to
Germany in 2006.
'It is England's time. The fact is they invented this sport. They last held
the World Cup 42 years ago,' Warner told Sky Sports News.
'That is almost two to three generations. There are guys in England who have
never seen a World Cup on English soil. I am saying that the time has come for
England to come into its own.
'They have a lot of things in place and CONCACAF is one of the the strongest
supporters of England.'
Warner, who had been quoted as saying England were an 'irritant' disliked by
the rest of Europe, reaffirmed his feeling that the country are not very popular
within UEFA.
'I was critical of The FA (in the past). There seems to be some kind of
situation where England was marginalised,' Warner said.
'If England's time (to host the World Cup) is 2018, I would be happy for
them.
'But the feeling in Europe from time to time that this view (of supporting
England) is not a collective view held behind closed doors.'
Warner also expressed his desire for a friendly between England and Trinidad
and Tobago football in the summer.
The two countries last met in the group stages of the 2006 World Cup.
Warner added: 'We have agreed to hold discussions which is positive but we
shall wait and see if we can sort something out.'
