Ferdinand asks football fans to support England's World Cup bid

London: To gather support for England's bid to host the World Cup in 2018, Rio Ferdinand told football fans that the World Cup will benefit all areas of society, should it come to this country in eight years' time.

The team's official charity has pledged a donation to the first International Centre for Disability Football, one of the projects at the centre of the bid's legacy plans, the Daily Express reports.

The donation for the disability centre will come from the Team England Footballers' Charity, which uses players' match fees to make donations.

Now Asafa Powell too set to withdraw from CWG

Ferdinand is close to a return after a knee injury wrecked his World Cup hopes on the eve of the tournament this summer.

"A World Cup in this country is a seriously exciting prospect so I am very keen to do whatever I can to help.

"I am fortunate to be in a position where I can commit to working with charity projects and I've seen first-hand the power that football can have in helping people," he said.

"Being awarded the privilege of hosting the World Cup will help support football, social and human development projects more than a World Cup anywhere else," Ferdinand said.

"I will be doing what I can to support our bid between now and the end of the year and I would encourage everyone to do the same," he added.