FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has made a World Cup dream come true for a teenage Hampshire football fan.

Matt Arding, 17, from Southampton, will be in Nuremberg on Thursday to watch David Beckham and his team-mates in action against Trinidad and Tobago thanks to Mr Warner.

Matt's family contacted the Bournemouth charity Round Table Children's Wish which makes wishes come true for children with life-threatening illnesses, requesting to see England play in the World Cup Finals.

RTCW officials had no luck acquiring tickets when they contacted the English FA and were running out of hope.

But their prayers were answered when they got in touch with Mike Berry, who acts as the international relations consultant for the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation.

Mr Berry swiftly made Matt's plight known to Mr Warner who immediately arranged for tickets to be made available to Matthew and his dad Paul.

Matthew, who lives in Thornhill, was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma in both eyes, which is an inherited form of eye cancer that appears in the retina. He has lost one eye and has only partial sight in the other.

The plucky youngster underwent a 19-hour operation to remove a brain tumour, leaving him with no vision in his left eye and just 12 per cent vision in the right.

His plight touched the hearts of many, including former Saints manager Harry Redknapp who arranged for Matt to lead his beloved Saints out on to the pitch against Blackburn Rovers just days before his operation.

Matt said: "I didn't know anything like this was going to happen. When my family told me I thought it was a wind-up. I am very grateful for what Mr Warner and the Round Table Children's Wish have done because I've never had the chance to see England play before."

Dad Paul said: "Matthew was beaming like a Cheshire cat when we told him the news. We are both really looking forward to the match."

For all the weekend's World Cup action see Monday Sport inside