The pledge has been delivered by Vitali Mutko, Russia's Sports Minister who is also head of the Russian Football Union (RFU), and is designed to allay fears that the country does not have enough world-class facilities to host the event.

 

Russia has already pledged a similar amount to help turn Sochi into a world-class city by the time it hosts the 2014 Winter Olympics.

 

Mutko claims that hosting the World Cup would act as a catalyst for the development of the transport network and accommodation facilities in the Russian regions, and would also boost the country's tourist potential.

 

Of the money to be spent on the tournament, just over $1 billion (£681 million) would go on the construction and reconstruction of stadiums.

 

The remaining money would be spent on general infrastructure upgrades.

 

RFU general director Alexei Sorokin claimed hosting the 2018 World Cup was a "unique chance for Russia."

 

He said: "Our advantage as far as our World Cup bid goes is partly supported by the fact that we basing it on the regions."

 

A minimum of twelve 40,000 capacity stadiums are needed to host the tournament, with the final to take place in a stadium seating no less than 80,000.

 

Five stadiums, according to Mutko, will be ready by 2013 - two in Moscow, one in St. Petersburg and one apiece in Sochi and Kazan.

 

Australia, Belgium and the Netherlands, England, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Spain and Portugal, and the United States have submitted bids for both competitions, while South Korea and Qatar have submitted bids for the 2022 World Cup.