With sports and politics mixing at the highest level Tuesday, Russia's prospects of hosting the 2018 World Cup dimmed after reports that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin might not lead the bid's final presentation on Thursday.
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the prime minister was set to visit Russia's westernmost enclave of Kaliningrad on Thursday but stopped short of saying that Putin wouldn't attend the FIFA meeting in Zurich, gazeta.ru reported.
Putin's name was not on a FIFA-submitted list of five intended speakers for the presentation, but he could still participate instead of Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, bid spokesman Andreas Herren told The Associated Press.
The FIFA executive committee will vote on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups on Thursday, and Russia had been favored to get the first of the two.
Putin's possible absence likely will energize 2018 rival England, already boosted Tuesday by the arrival of Prime Minister David Cameron, Prince William and David Beckham in FIFA's home city.
England's A-list lineup was hoping to limit potential damage caused by a BBC television investigation broadcast Monday that alleged corrupt dealings by four voters from FIFA's executive committee.
''I've only got one focus here and that's trying to bring the World Cup home for England,'' said Cameron, who began his intense schedule teaming with Beckham to meet FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who will vote in Thursday's secret ballots.
Cameron is following the example of Tony Blair, who went to Singapore to lobby IOC members ahead of the vote for London 2012.
Blatter, who has been linked with backing the Russian bid, also met with Australia's most senior state official, governor general Quentin Bryce.
The U.S. government said Attorney General Eric Holder will join former President Bill Clinton at FIFA headquarters on Wednesday when the five 2022 candidates make their final 30-minute presentations.
As the bidders strategized, FIFA said it had no intention of examining BBC allegations that three voters - Ricardo Teixeira, Nicolas Leoz and Issa Hayatou - took kickbacks from FIFA's former marketing agency from 1989-99.
FIFA said the matter was dealt with by a Swiss criminal court two years ago and no official was charged.
The International Olympic Committee said it would open an ethics probe into the allegations against Hayatou, who has been an IOC member since 2001 and also serves as president of the African football confederation.
CAF denied claims that Hayatou took a kickback of 100,000 French francs in 1995. It said the money was a donation toward the African body's 40th anniversary celebrations.
In another episode of the World Cup drama, FIFA still had not resolved a stalemate over whether its smallest continental region, Oceania, can vote Thursday. Oceania wants to replace suspended president Reynald Temarii, who was banned by FIFA for ethics violations.
Temarii has been reluctant to waive his right to appeal, which FIFA rules require before his deputy, David Chung of Papua New Guinea, can replace him.
Chung's presence would bring the number of voters to 23 and could alter a delicate balance in both contests.
Leaders of the joint Spain-Portugal bid believe they have eight first-round votes secured in the 2018 race, which includes Russia, England and Belgium-Netherlands. The European candidates make their on-stage presentations Thursday morning.
The 2022 contest pits the United States and Australia against Japan, South Korea and Qatar. FIFA investigated but found no evidence of alleged vote-trading between Spain-Portugal and Qatar.
With both bid races too close to call, last-minute lobbying by government leaders could yet be decisive - hinting that Putin senses wavering confidence in Russia.
Putin's presence has been seen as a potential trump card for Russia after he was crucial in Sochi's success in securing the 2014 Winter Olympics.
''He will speak for himself, probably tomorrow,'' said Russian sports minister and 2018 bid chairman Vitaly Mutko, who will vote as a member of FIFA's ruling executive. ''The key thing is, he supports this bid.''
Cameron also met with FIFA vice president Jack Warner, who was targeted by a BBC investigation over an alleged ticket scam before the World Cup in South Africa. Four years earlier, Warner was reprimanded by FIFA after his son profited from World Cup ticket sales.
Warner, who is from Trinidad and Tobago, can potentially deliver three votes from the CONCACAF region that are deemed crucial to England's chances.
''The British Prime Minister understands the importance and power of football,'' Warner said in a statement after the meeting, adding he praised Cameron for England's commitment to developing football around the world.
Beckham said the England delegation sought to reassure Blatter about the British media following the BBC probe.
''It was one of the topics that we spoke about and something that was cleared away,'' Beckham said during a visit to a Zurich school. ''What we made clear to him and what he already knows is that if we get the World Cup in 2018 our media are right behind us.''
FIFA requires complete government support to underwrite World Cup investment, plus tax and legal breaks during the monthlong tournament.
The World Cup vote has arrived as international financial markets sense Portugal could be the next European economy needing a bailout of government debt.
