Prince William and Prince Harry will join thousands of England fans in South Africa on Thursday cheering on the national team as they take on Algeria in a World Cup match.

The British royals, who are coming to the end of a tour of Southern Africa, will join Fifa executives and other officials in Cape Town for the crucial fixture.

The princes are on their first official overseas together and both will also be backing the Football Association's (FA) plans to stage the global soccer tournament in 2018.

William, 27, and Harry, 25, have already visited Botswana and Lesotho this week and will travel to Cape Town's impressive Green Point stadium for the England game.

The national team had a disappointing opening match on Saturday, drawing with the USA, but the royals will be hoping, along with the rest of the country, that Fabio Capello's team can earn its first win of the tournament.

William, president of the FA, has already held a video-link chat with the England manager and his senior players and it is hoped he and brother Harry can meet the soccer stars in person during their visit.

The second in line to the throne is strongly behind England's bid to host the World Cup in eight years time and will have his younger sibling by his side to help boost the efforts of England's soccer chiefs during a reception with Fifa executives tomorrow in Johannesburg.

Before the game, the royal brothers will visit a local paediatric hospital in Cape Town to see youngsters being cared for by medical staff.

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