David Beckham has been hailed as a "hugely impressive" member of England 2018's bid team.

Beckham yesterday had talks in Cape Town with both FIFA president Sepp Blatter and vice-president Jack Warner, alongside Lord Triesman, the bid and FA chairman.

Afterwards, Triesman said: "We had some excellent meetings today including with the FIFA president Sepp Blatter and with FIFA vice-president Jack Warner.

"David was hugely impressive in those meetings. It is clear that legacy is central to the hopes of FIFA and any successful bid. This area is one of David's great passions and will be integral to our bid."

Last night, it emerged that Beckham intends to stay in South Africa to assist with the bid despite being told his grandfather has died, although his plans may change if the funeral is arranged for later this week.

Beckham, who was today expected to visit one of the FA's international development programmes near Cape Town, is fast emerging as a major force in the 2018 campaign's attempts to shake off the turmoil of the past month.

Beckham himself told Blatter of his delight to be in South Africa, having felt honoured to meet the country's former president Nelson Mandela on a previous visit.

Beckham told www.fifa.com: "It was a very relaxed, light-hearted conversation and it was good to speak to him. Mr Blatter is not just the FIFA president and a powerful man in football, but he's a very, very good person as well, which is more important.

"When I was last here with England, I had the honour of meeting Nelson Mandela. That was the highlight of my career; to meet such a great man and a strong man and such a passionate man about sport and life will always stay with me."

Warner told Press Association Sport afterwards: "It was a good meeting - some pleasant chit-chat and he asked my advice on how best to proceed in the bid, which I was happy to give."