Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd yesterday took time away from their hectic CHOGM schedules to meet with FIFA vice president Jack Warner, to discuss their 2018 World Cup bids.

Both countries will be presenting bids to the FIFA Executive Committee to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cups, a release from Warner said. A decision on the host country for the tournaments will be taken in December 2010.

Brown met Warner at the British High Commission in St Clair, minutes after the official CHOGM opening ceremony ended.

According to the release, Brown told Warner: ’I am glad we are having this discussion ... We in England want this ... I am passionate about football, England is passionate about football.’

It has been almost 50 years since England hosted a World Cup.

Warner will also be meeting with officials from the 2018 Cup (English) Bid team, including David Beckham, in South Africa next week. After the meeting, Brown presented Warner with a silver Downing Street clock, while the World Cup Bid team presented the FIFE jefe with several memorabilia items, including a ’Back the Bid’ scarf which organisers jokingly asked him to use during his winter travels.

Rudd met Warner at the residence of the Australian Ambassador in Cascade.

Rudd told Warner: ’We have a strong bid and it will only get stronger.’

Last week, Warner commended the Australian Prime Minister on his commitment to the 2018 bid, saying that he was impressed by his commitment and involvement in the process.

Last week, Warner told international media that Australia had a ’good chance’ of wining the bid.