Bermuda will play a ‘vital' role in just who gets to run world soccer, according to the Island's Football Association.

BFA president Larry Mussenden, vice president Robert Calderon and general secretary David Sabir are all heading for the World Cup in Japan and South Korea. But before they get to watch a match they will cast their vote in FIFA's presidential election.

Sepp Blatter is the current head of soccer's world governing body, but he has come under increasing pressure to stand down in recent weeks, following allegations of massive corruption at the highest level.

He is set to be challenged next Wednesday, two days before the start of the World Cup, by African soccer chief Issa Hayatou.

But although Bermuda will have a vote, it is likely they will come under pressure as to how they use it.

CONCACAF, the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football, to which Bermuda is affiliated, has thrown its weight behind Blatter.

Last week CONCACAF president Jack Warner said the organisation wished “to affirm its full and unstinting support of FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter's candidacy for re-election”.

Warner said the achievements of Blatter spoke loudly “despite the efforts of his detractors.”

“Blatter has done much to spread the gospel of football to all parts of the globe, consistent with his motto: Football for All and All for Football,” he said.

Speaking yesterday Sabir did not reveal which way the BFA was leaning, but his comments strongly hinted at following CONCACAF's lead, not surprising really as the BFA backed Blatter during the last election in 1998.

Sabir said it was bound to be an “intense and high powered” congress and said Bermuda's vote would be “just as significant” as those from the giants of soccer such as Brazil.

“As small as we are as a country,” he said. “We will play a vital role in this whole process and we will take it very seriously.”

Sabir said the election, although the biggest aspect of the BFA's trip, was not the only reason for going.

“One of the other things that we hope to achieve while we are over there, and this aligns itself with the attendance of Robert Calderon, is to touch base with some of our colleagues around the world in the area of technical assistance,” he said.

Sabir said the BFA would also seek to develop the relationship it had with member countries and forge new ones with countries “who we, at some point, may look forward to playing against or have visit”.