Star turn: David Beckham

SPAIN/PORTUGAL: Powerful opponents to England if FIFA decide to allow joint bids. Sepp Blatter was reported to have initially rejected a joint bid because of 'double' costs, but last month he spoke of how "honoured" he was when the respective Spanish and Portuguese association heavyweights personally made their way to FIFA HQ in Zurich to discuss the bid.

Star turn: Luis Figo

RUSSIA: Heavyweight bid in political terms as they can bring a vast amount of influence to bear. Russia have also never hosted a major football tournament and FIFA's rotation policy will most likely see a European country hosting the 2018 finals. Vast distances to contend with though - there are nine separate time zones and the struggles of Ukraine and Poland to prepare for Euro 2012 cannot help.

Star turn: Vladimir Putin

HOLLAND/BELGIUM: Another candidate waiting to see what unfolds regarding joint bids. Can at least demonstrate they worked well together to put on Euro 2000 and have the facilities but perhaps not the glamour of England and Spain/Portugal. They are organised and united though, unveiling their 12 potential cities a full month before England.

Star turn: Johann Cruyff

USA: Strong candidate - but for 2022 rather than 2018. Hosted the tournament fairly recently, in 1994, but that was judged a great success and FIFA remember fondly the television and marketing opportunities. Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid was recently rejected, which could affect a World Cup bid either way.

Star turn: Barack Obama

AUSTRALIA: Best of the candidates from the Asian confederation and the most likely destination if 2018 does not go to Europe. Can point to the fact that it would be a new territory for the World Cup, something that FIFA likes, plus is a sport-crazy nation with good infrastructure, and has a history of hosting successful sporting events such as the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Star turn: Frank Lowy, tycoon turned Football Federation Australia chairman

INDONESIA: Surprise entrants and rank outsiders with little heritage, infrastructure and influence of which to boast. The country does have a huge population of 235million and the Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta has a capacity of 88,000. Have said they would prefer a 2022 bid for a more environmentally friendly 'Green' World Cup, which will certainly turn a few heads nearer the time.

Star turn: Rita Subowo - Indonesia's leading sports official and member of the International Olympic Committee.

JAPAN: Recent hosts, in 2002 jointly with Korea, and would undoubtedly be another commercial and administrative success. But at the moment are distant outsiders with little political influence, and surely cannot be chosen again so soon when so many other countries have not hosted the finals for decades, or indeed ever.

Star turn: Motoaki Inukai, president of the Japanese FA.

SOUTH KOREA (for 2022 only): Like Japan, have recently been hosts, and have the infrastructure. Forced FIFA into accepting them as joint hosts for 2002 by garnering significant support but their star has waned somewhat.

Star turn: FIFA vice-president Chung Mong Joon.

QATAR (for 2022 only): Following up their hopeless attempt for the 2016 Olympics by trying their luck for the World Cup. Still have not answered the question about how players would deal with the extreme heat in June/July - apart from one idea about an underground stadium. The atmosphere generated at the recent Brazil v England friendly was nil.

Star turn: Mike Lee, the spin doctor who masterminded London and Rio winning their respective Olympic bids is now spearheading Qatar's World Cup bid.