www.GoUSAbid.com went live to coincide with the unveiling of the bid logo and theme: "The Game is in US".

 

 

The digital campaign is currently focusing on an online petition that encourages people to show their support for the bid, with the first 25,000 people to sign up, set to receive bumper stickers featuring the bid logo and slogan.

 

The site will also encourage user interaction, including resources for fans to organise local events with other supporters in their area.

 

Matt Ipcar, Blue State Digital's design director, said: "Unlike some of our previous campaign projects, the energy and raw excitement surrounding the USA World Cup Bid is politically colour blind and covers the entire American spectrum.

 

"I'm thrilled to have a hand in activating thousands - hopefully millions - of American soccer fans."

 

David Downs, the Executive Director of the USA Bid Committee, said: "The people of the United States have shown an unprecedented passion for soccer supporting various national teams, international and local clubs in stadiums across America throughout this year's 'Summer of Soccer'.

 

"The launch of goUSAbid.com along with the unveiling of our logo and bid theme will give these fans, and thousands of others, the avenue to involve themselves in the USA Bid effort on a personal level in a measurable and meaningful way."

 

"The United States is home to people from all corners of the world and our bid theme has been developed to appeal to the passion for the sport felt by every single one of them.

 

"We believe that the game is in all of us, and we hope that the theme will resonate as a rallying cry for the millions of soccer fans living in the USA who want to see the World Cup return to America."

 

The US is favourite to host the 2022 World Cup.

 

It is also bidding for the 2018 tournament but that event is expected to be awarded to Europe for the first time since Germany in 2006.

 

The front-runners for that tournament are England and the joint bid from Spain and Portugal, with other European bidders being Russia and Holland and Belgium, another joint bid.

 

Also bidding are Australia, Indonesia, Japan and Mexico.

 

Qatar and South Korea are bidding for just the 2022 World Cup, which will be awarded by FIFA at the same time as 2018 at a meeting in December 2010.

 

During last year's presidential campaign BSD used www.mybarackobama.com to mobilise more than three million Obama supporters to contribute over $500 million (£302 million) online.

 

The online strategy company's other clients include Senator Ted Kennedy, American Red Cross, Save Darfur Coalition, and Hope Not Hate, a British anti-fascism group.

 

They are based in Washington DC and also have offices in Boston, New York, San Francisco and London.