FA reveal battle plan to stage World Cup

They will face fierce competition from Russia, Spain, China, Australia and the United States, but senior figures are confident of success.

A decision on the venue is expected in May 2011 and this afternoon the FA gave full details of how they intend to convince FIFA's 24-man executive committee to vote for England. The FA's £15million campaign will include:

a nationwide contest among English cities to find 10 stadiums to host World Cup games

the creation of a separate bid company with 15 full-time staff based at the FA offices in either Wembley or Soho Square

a bid chairman, chief executive and chief operating officer to be recruited with the help of headhunters by October

two bid vice-presidents, with either business or football backgrounds, to sit on the company's executive board

a number of high-profile football ambassadors, who could include David Beckham, to help sell the bid around the world.

The FA also revealed the two key objectives that lie at the heart of their strategy.

First, to produce an unrivalled technical bid meeting all FIFA's criteria on issues such as stadia, accommodation, transport and infrastructure.

Second, to explain the legacy to the wider football world of winning the 2018 vote and the potential benefits one of the wealthiest football countries can bring to poorer nations.

The FA are desperate to learn the lessons of the failed campaign for the 2006 tournament when England was perceived as arrogant.

Soho Square officials also stressed the importance of the bid being carried out independently of the government as FIFA executive members are traditionally suspicious of political interference. Government support will still be crucial, however, for key issues such as security, counter-terrorism and transport.

Of the 10 stadiums needed for the tender document which will be submitted to FIFA by November 2010, only Wembley has been selected.

The FA want a geographical spread for the other nine and are anxious for any new stadiums already under way to be built to FIFA requirements.

In recent weeks, FA officials have visited Bristol City and Portsmouth to advise on the clubs' proposed moves and are also planning talks with Nottingham Forest.

The FA are keen to take co-ordinated bids from host cities rather individual stadiums.

Cities will not be limited to one host ground so the competition to join Wembley as London's representative will be strong. Arsenal and Chelsea are the only clubs to meet FIFA's 40,000 minimum for capacity, but Tottenham and West Ham both plan to have bigger homes by 2018.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday raised fears the violence in Manchester after Rangers' UEFA Cup defeat could affect a bid, but given that English fans were not involved the FA are not unduly concerned.