England's 2018 World Cup bid gets top marks from Fifa as flight problems hinder Russians

The report is understood to be positive about most areas of England's bid, with the only issue raised about contracted hotel rooms.

Although the FIFA inspectors' report are broadly positive about all the bids, England look to have received marginally better marks than their main rivals – some much-needed good news after a month of media-related setbacks.

Russia's report is expected to put a question mark over their transport plan, particularly in relation to air traffic, while Spain/Portugal are due to be told they need a proper safety and security strategy.

Holland/Belgium are also bidding for 2018 and the report is expected to highlight the challenges of a joint bid.

The issue of hotel rooms was raised when the FIFA inspectors visited England in August and bid chief executive Andy Anson described the issue then as a "technical formality" which would be sorted out before the end of September.

The evaluation reports for the 2022 World Cup bidders will also be published today, and a senior FIFA figure has questioned Qatar's claim that air-conditioning can deal with their searing summer heat problem.

Qatar have emerged as strong contenders for the tournament despite having to face issues surrounding the heat, which averages more than 40 degree centigrade in June and July and last summer topped 50 degrees, and the small size of the country and population.

The Qatar bid have said air-conditioning the stadiums can lower the temperatures into the low 30s, but the USA's Chuck Blazer, a long-standing member of the FIFA executive committee who will vote on the 2018 and 2022 hosts on December 2, does not believe this is enough.

Blazer told the Wall Street Journal: "You can air-condition a stadium, but I don't see how you can air-condition an entire country."

The USA are bidding against Qatar, along with Australia and outsiders South Korea and Japan.

As well as the heat, the size of Qatar is an issue – it is half the size of Wales with a population of less than one million, half of whom live in the country's only city of note, Doha.

A special meeting of the FIFA executive committee has been called on Friday in Zurich, with only two items on the agenda: to discuss the evaluation reports and the outcome of the FIFA ethics committee hearing.

Some FIFA insiders believe there may be a move to bar Qatar from the bid process on technical grounds if the evaluation report raises too many high-risk problems.

On Monday, the head of Qatar's bid insisted they were "now credible contenders".

Bid chief executive Hassan Al Thawadi told the Aspire4Sport conference in Doha: "Our enthusiasm for the sport rivals any other country on the planet.

"The weather posed many concerns but we acknowledged the issue and we continue to overcome this.

"The benefits of our bid have won over many sceptics."

FIFA's ethics committee will announce their findings tomorrow into separate investigations into corruption and collusion claims.

Two FIFA executive committee members, Nigeria's Amos Adamu and Tahiti's Reynald Temarii, have been alleged by the Sunday Times to have asked for cash for projects in exchange for votes. Other low-ranking FIFA officials also face possible sanctions, and all deny any wrongdoing.

The collusion allegation is that Qatar and Spain/Portugal have done a deal for votes in contravention of FIFA rules, which they deny.

Newcastle striker Andy Carroll will make his England debut against France tonight, Fabio Capello has confirmed.

The 21-year-old trained yesterday after sitting out Monday's session with a slight injury and will start alongside Sunderland's Jordan Henderson, who also wins his first cap, and Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs.