The Football Association (FA) has officially launched its campaign to host the FIFA World Cup in either 2018 or 2022 with a special event held at London's Wembley Stadium.

Andy Anson, chief executive of the FA's bid company, said that England will have to work hard to beat off competition from countries including Australia, Russia and the US to earn the chance to stage the tournament for the first time since 1966. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and England manager Fabio Capello were among the guests at the special launch event at Wembley, along with FA chair Lord Triesman and footballers David Beckham and Wayne Rooney.

Anson said: "This is the most competitive bid there has ever been. FIFA has done away with the rotation policy of different continents so we have impressive rivals from all around the world. "We have to be aware that we have no special right to stage the World Cup and we will have to earn it. We will be looking to build on the passion evident in football all around the country, as we have people playing football everywhere and fans filling stadiums every week throughout the Premier League and Football League."

Other countries bidding to host either the 2018 or 2022 tournaments are Mexico, Indonesia and Japan, while Belgium and Holland, and Spain and Portugal have launched joint bids. Qatar and South Korea are competing to host the 2022 tournament only, and a decision is expected from FIFA in December 2010.