ZURICH - FIFA president Sepp Blatter fired the starting gun for the race to host the 2018 World Cup on Monday - with England regarded as one of the front-runners.
The English Football Association will meet on Wednesday to decide on their next step towards a bid for 2018 after FIFA's executive committee scrapped rotation of the tournament between the continents.
The FA are expected to commission their own feasibility study to examine the likelihood of their winning the race, the positive effects on the sport in the country as well as any potential pitfalls.
A campaign is likely to cost up to £15million - half the cost of London's bid for the 2012 Olympics - and Prime Minister Gordon Brown is determined that England throw their hat in the ring for 2018.
They are likely to face strong challenges from Russia, China and the USA.
Blatter told a news conference in Zurich: "We have not played the 2010 World Cup or formally attributed the 2014 World Cup and already we have a bunch of big, great candidates for 2018 and there can be more.
"Besides England, where I have just met the Prime Minister, there are other European candidates - a combined offer from the Netherlands and Belgium as in Euro 2000 - and interest from China, Australia, Mexico and from USA."
Blatter said the FIFA executive committee would decide on the hosts in 2011 and that bids would have to be officially submitted at least two years beforehand.
"I think they should start their bidding [campaign] tomorrow!" he added.
Blatter also confirmed that Lord Coe, chairman of FIFA's ethics committee, would play a key role as the watchdog for the bids for 2018.
He said: "We try to be fair and transparent and we have had a discussion on this matter with the chairman of our ethics committee and we have invited him and his committee to overlook the bid process.
"This will be not only looking at the FIFA executive committee - you should also have a look at the bidders and he will do that."
If there are a large number of bidders for 2018 then FIFA will whittle down the number of candidates.
Blatter added: "If there will be 10 or 11 candidates we must obviously make a pre-selection, as they do in the Olympics, as it would not be possible."
FA chief executive Brian Barwick said FIFA's unanimous decision was "very encouraging" and that there was a strong case for England to be hosts in 2018.
Barwick said: "It is exactly what we were hoping for and we will now discuss a timetable for a potential bid.
"The successful campaign which saw London awarded the 2012 Olympic Games has already shown what can be achieved.
"We realise there will be strong competition involved in any bidding process, but we know that England has fantastic stadiums, a unique tradition and passion for the game and also a very strong infrastructure already in place.
"I have always said that when the World Cup is next played in Europe, there is a very strong argument for holding it in England."
The Prime Minister also expressed his delight at FIFA's decision to throw open the tournament - the only restrictions for 2018 is that countries from Africa and South America will not be able to bid as their continents are hosting the finals in 2010 (South Africa) and 2014 (Brazil).
Brown said: "The nation which gave football to the world deserves to have the greatest tournament back on these shores.
"If the FA decide to go ahead and bid for the tournament, they know they will have the full support of the Government behind them, and we will make it our mission to persuade other countries to back us in bringing the World Cup back to England."
Chuck Blazer, the American member of FIFA's 24-man executive committee and treasurer of the CONCACAF federation of countries from north and central America and the Caribbean, said an England bid would be well regarded.
Blazer said: "I think they will do great and will have a good bid - and I am sure my members will give them some good competition and a run for their money."
