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Fifa’s president has invited the 12 boys and football coach who are trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand to the World Cup final if they are rescued in time.

A 1,000 strong rescue team is facing a race against worsening weather and lowering oxygen levels in the underground complex where the group has been trapped for two weeks.

Danish volunteer cave diver Ivan Karadzic today told Sky News that he believed the rescue would happen today.

Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa, said the organisation had been “anxiously following the news of the rescue operation”.

He has written a letter inviting the entire team and their coach to the World Cup final which will take place on Sunday, July 15 at the Luzhniki Stadium.

One of the boys named Sompong Jaiwong trapped in the cave is a huge England fan, who would “love” to see the Three Lions win the World Cup, according to his uncle.

At a press conference on Thursday, England star John Stones said he had been discussing the plight of the young footballs, who are all aged between 11 and 16, with his teammates and that they hoped they get out “safe and sound.”

The Fifa letter, addressed to the president of the Football Association of Thailand, offered its "deepest sympathies and support" to the families of the young soccer players and their coach trapped in the flooded Tham Luang Nang Non cave.

The letter said the organisation would like to invite the youngsters and their coach to the World Cup final in Russia, should they be rescued in time and are healthy enough to travel.

It added that the team's appearance at the final would "undoubtedly be a wonderful moment of communion and celebration."

He said he hoped that “in some way our words of support may help bring them a little peace and courage in these difficult moments of uncertainty and concern.”

Former Thai Navy SEAL diver Saman Kunan, 38, died during the rescue effort on Friday after losing consciousness on his way out of the cave complex, where he had been delivering air tanks to a staging area.

Mr Kunan died at about 1am when he ran out of oxygen as he was returning from placing the tanks along the route to the boys. He was brought out by his dive partner but could not be revived.

Speaking of when the rescue would be carried out, Thai Navy SEAL commander Arpakorn Yookongkaew told a news conference: “We can no longer wait for all conditions (to be ready) because circumstances are pressuring us.”

Thailand Cave Rescue - In pictures 71 show all Thailand Cave Rescue - In pictures 1/71 Soccer coach Ekkapol Chanthawong, front, and members of the soccer team who were rescued from a flooded cave last week attend a Buddhist ceremony as they prepare to be ordained as Buddhist monks and novices in the Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand AP 2/71 Soccer coach Ekkapol Chantawong, center, lights a candle as he and members of the rescued soccer team attend a Buddhist ceremony that is believed to extend the lives of its attendees as well as ridding them of dangers and misfortunes, in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, AP 3/71 Soccer coach Ekkapol Chantawong, left front, and members of the rescued soccer team attend a Buddhist ceremony that is believed to extend the lives of its attendees as well as ridding them of dangers and misfortunes, in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand AP 4/71 members of Wild Boar soccer team and their assistant coach Ekapol Chantawong (R), who were rescued from the Tham Luang cave, performing a traditional Thai greeting in front of a backdrop with a banner reading 'Thanks to the world' during a religious worship ritual at Wat Phra Thart Doi Wao temple in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province, Thailand EPA 5/71 Members of the Wild Boars soccer team, who were rescued from Tham Luang cave, offering prayers next to Thai Buddhist monks during a religious worship ritual at Wat Phra Thart Doi Wao temple in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province, Thailand EPA 6/71 Three of the 12 boys are seen recovering in their hospital beds after being rescued along with their coach from a flooded cave in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand Thailand Government Spokesman Bureau via AP 7/71 Family members watch the rescued boys through a window outside the recovery ward at the Chiang Rai hospital in Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand AP 8/71 AP 9/71 AP 10/71 A rescue diver enters the Thai cave during the rescue operation AFP/Getty Images 11/71 AP 12/71 AP 13/71 AP 14/71 AP 15/71 AP 16/71 Rescue personnel during the rescue operation for members of the "Wild Boars AFP/Getty Images 17/71 AFP/Getty Images 18/71 AFP/Getty Images 19/71 A group of Thai Navy divers in the Tham Luang cave during rescue operations Thai Navy SEAL via Getty Images 20/71 Rescue personnel walk at the site of the Tham Luang cave complex during a mission to rescue the remaining members of a soccer team trapped in a flooded cave in Chiang Rai, Thailan Reuters 21/71 Rescue success: The last four navy Seals emerge from the cave Thai NavySEAL/Facebook 22/71 Thai soldiers and paramedics help one of the boys rescued from the cave on Sunday AFP/Getty Images 23/71 Rescue effort to resume: Thai military personnel prepare to move the four rescued boys from the mouth of the cave to a hospital EPA 24/71 Emergency workers carry a stretcher with one of the rescued boy to be transported by ambulance to a hospital AP 25/71 An emergency team carries a stretcher believed to be carrying one of the rescued boys from the flooded cave to a waiting helicopter AP 26/71 A convoy of ambulances were seen transporting the children to hospital EPA 27/71 Rescue workers along the main road leading to Tham Luang Nang Non cave Getty Images 28/71 Rescue teams work at the Tham Luang cave complex after members of a football team and their coach were found alive Reuters 29/71 A Thai boy smiles as a Thai Navy Seals medic helps the injured in the cave AP 30/71 Rescue teams work in the cave amid reports the boys are receiving diving and swimming lessons Reuters 31/71 The complex rescue operation could last for months Reuters 32/71 The boys inside the cave are all aged between 11 and 16 AP 33/71 A Thai Navy Seal medic helps an injured child inside a cave AP 34/71 A rescue team personnel work at the Tham Luang cave complex Reuters 35/71 The boys are located 2.5 miles inside the narrow, winding cave complex Reuters 36/71 A complicated rescue operation is underway to remove the boys Reuters 37/71 Flood waters mean the operation to remove the boys could take months Reuters 38/71 Rescue teams at work inside the cave complex Reuters 39/71 A picture of the missing boys smiling from inside the cave was shared with their relatives at ground level AFP/Getty Images 40/71 The boys inside the Tham Luang cave AP 41/71 The Brit divers sit in a meeting after finding the children and football coach alive in the cave AFP/Getty Images 42/71 Rescuers are sent inside Tham Luang Nang Non cave to continue the rescue Getty Images 43/71 Thai rescue workers and associated officials prepare oxygen tanks for the rescue operation EPA 44/71 The boys were seen smiling in the photo which was circulated among relatives AFP/Getty Images 45/71 Joy: a family member smiles after hearing the news that the missing 12 boys and their soccer coach have been found AP 46/71 A happy family member shows the latest pictures of the missing boys taken by rescue divers AFP/Getty Images 47/71 Family members smile after hearing the news that the missing 12 boys and their soccer coach have been found AP 48/71 Thai workers and officials watch during efforts to drain the flooded cave - as the football team and coach were found alive inside EPA 49/71 Members of the Thai army carry supplies inside the cave EPA 50/71 Rescuers carried out a complex and perilous mission to try and find the boys and their football coach EPA 51/71 Soldiers carry sandbags deep inside the cave EPA 52/71 Thousands of gallons of floodwater was pumped out of the cave in the effort to find the people who were trapped EPA 53/71 Now a complex rescue operation must be undertaken to safely return the 12 boys and their coach to the surface EPA 54/71 Journalists try to interview a military officer near the Tham Luang cave complex after the boys were found alive Reuters 55/71 A reporter smiles after learning of the news the boys were still alive inside the cave, along with their coach Reuters 56/71 Thai navy SEAL divers assess the water level in a tunnel. They later made their way through to the trapped football team, finding them alive in the cave AFP/Getty Images 57/71 Rescue personnel walk out of the entrance to a cave complex where it's believed that 12 football team members and their coach went missing AP 58/71 Thai military officials, the rescue workers and park officials inform associated officials of their plan in regards to the rescue operation for missing football players and their coach at the Tham Luang cave in Tham Luang Khun Nam Nang Noon Forest Park in Chiang Rai province, Thailand EPA 59/71 Relatives pray at a Buddhist ceremony in Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park Getty Images 60/71 Three British cave-divers, Richard William Stanton, Robert Charles Harper and John Volanthen (left to right) arrive on Wednesday AFP/Getty Images 61/71 Thai military personnel walk into a cave during the rescue operation EPA 62/71 Thai military personnel gather as flood waters rise inside the cave EPA 63/71 rescue workers at the entrance of the Tham Luang cave AFP/Getty Images 64/71 Hoses and mobile power generator to be used for pumping out water in the cave are laid out on the ground of Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park in Chiang Rai near the Tham Luang cave entrance AFP/Getty Images 65/71 Thai soldiers search for alternative ways into the cave where the team are stuck AFP/Getty Images 66/71 Thai soldiers relay electric cable deep into the Tham Luang cave at the Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park in Chiang Rai AFP/Getty Images 67/71 Rescuers prepare their equipment on the next attemp to enter the Tham Luang Nang Non cave Getty Images 68/71 A Thai official takes a photo in the area where the officials used as a gathering point inside the cave, but now is flooded, during the rescue operation for missing football players and their coach at the Tham Luang cave in Tham Luang Khun Nam Nang Noon Forest Park in Chiang Rai province, Thailand EPA 69/71 Three British cave divers, who have previously explored this cave site, John Volamthen (R), Robert Charlie Harper (L) and Richard William Stanton (C) arrive at the Tham Luang cave to join the rescue operation for missing football players and their coach at the Tham Luang cave in Tham Luang Khun Nam Nang Noon Forest Park in Chiang Rai province, Thailand EPA 70/71 A Buddhist monk and relatives pray near Tham Luang caves during the search Reuters 71/71 US military personnel arrive at Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park near Than Luang cave in Chiang Rai province AFP/Getty Images 1/71 Soccer coach Ekkapol Chanthawong, front, and members of the soccer team who were rescued from a flooded cave last week attend a Buddhist ceremony as they prepare to be ordained as Buddhist monks and novices in the Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand AP 2/71 Soccer coach Ekkapol Chantawong, center, lights a candle as he and members of the rescued soccer team attend a Buddhist ceremony that is believed to extend the lives of its attendees as well as ridding them of dangers and misfortunes, in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, AP 3/71 Soccer coach Ekkapol Chantawong, left front, and members of the rescued soccer team attend a Buddhist ceremony that is believed to extend the lives of its attendees as well as ridding them of dangers and misfortunes, in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand AP 4/71 members of Wild Boar soccer team and their assistant coach Ekapol Chantawong (R), who were rescued from the Tham Luang cave, performing a traditional Thai greeting in front of a backdrop with a banner reading 'Thanks to the world' during a religious worship ritual at Wat Phra Thart Doi Wao temple in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province, Thailand EPA 5/71 Members of the Wild Boars soccer team, who were rescued from Tham Luang cave, offering prayers next to Thai Buddhist monks during a religious worship ritual at Wat Phra Thart Doi Wao temple in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province, Thailand EPA 6/71 Three of the 12 boys are seen recovering in their hospital beds after being rescued along with their coach from a flooded cave in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand Thailand Government Spokesman Bureau via AP 7/71 Family members watch the rescued boys through a window outside the recovery ward at the Chiang Rai hospital in Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand AP 8/71 AP 9/71 AP 10/71 A rescue diver enters the Thai cave during the rescue operation AFP/Getty Images 11/71 AP 12/71 AP 13/71 AP 14/71 AP 15/71 AP 16/71 Rescue personnel during the rescue operation for members of the "Wild Boars AFP/Getty Images 17/71 AFP/Getty Images 18/71 AFP/Getty Images 19/71 A group of Thai Navy divers in the Tham Luang cave during rescue operations Thai Navy SEAL via Getty Images 20/71 Rescue personnel walk at the site of the Tham Luang cave complex during a mission to rescue the remaining members of a soccer team trapped in a flooded cave in Chiang Rai, Thailan Reuters 21/71 Rescue success: The last four navy Seals emerge from the cave Thai NavySEAL/Facebook 22/71 Thai soldiers and paramedics help one of the boys rescued from the cave on Sunday AFP/Getty Images 23/71 Rescue effort to resume: Thai military personnel prepare to move the four rescued boys from the mouth of the cave to a hospital EPA 24/71 Emergency workers carry a stretcher with one of the rescued boy to be transported by ambulance to a hospital AP 25/71 An emergency team carries a stretcher believed to be carrying one of the rescued boys from the flooded cave to a waiting helicopter AP 26/71 A convoy of ambulances were seen transporting the children to hospital EPA 27/71 Rescue workers along the main road leading to Tham Luang Nang Non cave Getty Images 28/71 Rescue teams work at the Tham Luang cave complex after members of a football team and their coach were found alive Reuters 29/71 A Thai boy smiles as a Thai Navy Seals medic helps the injured in the cave AP 30/71 Rescue teams work in the cave amid reports the boys are receiving diving and swimming lessons Reuters 31/71 The complex rescue operation could last for months Reuters 32/71 The boys inside the cave are all aged between 11 and 16 AP 33/71 A Thai Navy Seal medic helps an injured child inside a cave AP 34/71 A rescue team personnel work at the Tham Luang cave complex Reuters 35/71 The boys are located 2.5 miles inside the narrow, winding cave complex Reuters 36/71 A complicated rescue operation is underway to remove the boys Reuters 37/71 Flood waters mean the operation to remove the boys could take months Reuters 38/71 Rescue teams at work inside the cave complex Reuters 39/71 A picture of the missing boys smiling from inside the cave was shared with their relatives at ground level AFP/Getty Images 40/71 The boys inside the Tham Luang cave AP 41/71 The Brit divers sit in a meeting after finding the children and football coach alive in the cave AFP/Getty Images 42/71 Rescuers are sent inside Tham Luang Nang Non cave to continue the rescue Getty Images 43/71 Thai rescue workers and associated officials prepare oxygen tanks for the rescue operation EPA 44/71 The boys were seen smiling in the photo which was circulated among relatives AFP/Getty Images 45/71 Joy: a family member smiles after hearing the news that the missing 12 boys and their soccer coach have been found AP 46/71 A happy family member shows the latest pictures of the missing boys taken by rescue divers AFP/Getty Images 47/71 Family members smile after hearing the news that the missing 12 boys and their soccer coach have been found AP 48/71 Thai workers and officials watch during efforts to drain the flooded cave - as the football team and coach were found alive inside EPA 49/71 Members of the Thai army carry supplies inside the cave EPA 50/71 Rescuers carried out a complex and perilous mission to try and find the boys and their football coach EPA 51/71 Soldiers carry sandbags deep inside the cave EPA 52/71 Thousands of gallons of floodwater was pumped out of the cave in the effort to find the people who were trapped EPA 53/71 Now a complex rescue operation must be undertaken to safely return the 12 boys and their coach to the surface EPA 54/71 Journalists try to interview a military officer near the Tham Luang cave complex after the boys were found alive Reuters 55/71 A reporter smiles after learning of the news the boys were still alive inside the cave, along with their coach Reuters 56/71 Thai navy SEAL divers assess the water level in a tunnel. They later made their way through to the trapped football team, finding them alive in the cave AFP/Getty Images 57/71 Rescue personnel walk out of the entrance to a cave complex where it's believed that 12 football team members and their coach went missing AP 58/71 Thai military officials, the rescue workers and park officials inform associated officials of their plan in regards to the rescue operation for missing football players and their coach at the Tham Luang cave in Tham Luang Khun Nam Nang Noon Forest Park in Chiang Rai province, Thailand EPA 59/71 Relatives pray at a Buddhist ceremony in Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park Getty Images 60/71 Three British cave-divers, Richard William Stanton, Robert Charles Harper and John Volanthen (left to right) arrive on Wednesday AFP/Getty Images 61/71 Thai military personnel walk into a cave during the rescue operation EPA 62/71 Thai military personnel gather as flood waters rise inside the cave EPA 63/71 rescue workers at the entrance of the Tham Luang cave AFP/Getty Images 64/71 Hoses and mobile power generator to be used for pumping out water in the cave are laid out on the ground of Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park in Chiang Rai near the Tham Luang cave entrance AFP/Getty Images 65/71 Thai soldiers search for alternative ways into the cave where the team are stuck AFP/Getty Images 66/71 Thai soldiers relay electric cable deep into the Tham Luang cave at the Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park in Chiang Rai AFP/Getty Images 67/71 Rescuers prepare their equipment on the next attemp to enter the Tham Luang Nang Non cave Getty Images 68/71 A Thai official takes a photo in the area where the officials used as a gathering point inside the cave, but now is flooded, during the rescue operation for missing football players and their coach at the Tham Luang cave in Tham Luang Khun Nam Nang Noon Forest Park in Chiang Rai province, Thailand EPA 69/71 Three British cave divers, who have previously explored this cave site, John Volamthen (R), Robert Charlie Harper (L) and Richard William Stanton (C) arrive at the Tham Luang cave to join the rescue operation for missing football players and their coach at the Tham Luang cave in Tham Luang Khun Nam Nang Noon Forest Park in Chiang Rai province, Thailand EPA 70/71 A Buddhist monk and relatives pray near Tham Luang caves during the search Reuters 71/71 US military personnel arrive at Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park near Than Luang cave in Chiang Rai province AFP/Getty Images

He indicated that rescuers may have little choice but to attempt the tricky extraction of the group.

“We originally thought the boys can stay safe inside the cave for quite some time but circumstances have changed. We have a limited amount of time,” he said.

Tributes were paid to Mr Kunan, who was hailed a “hero and a brave man”. He was a retired Navy Seal but had been working as a volunteer as part of the team trying to establish an oxygen line to the chamber where the children are awaiting rescue. His body has been taken to Bangkok airport and he will receive a royal-sponsored funeral