Russia's Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, who is also President of the national Football Association, said his team was prepared to do whatever it took to bring the football's most prestigious event to the world's largest country for the first time.

He said: "This is a historic occasion for Russia and Russian football.

"It's also a unique opportunity for FIFA because Russia has a huge potential to develop the game in a huge region that spreads over two continents, Europe and Asia."

The 2014 tournament will be held in Brazil and football's world governing body FIFA will announce the 2018 and 2022 hosts in December 2010.

While Russia lags behind some other bidders, such as England and the United States, in terms of the infrastructure, Mutko said he had a powerful ally in FIFA President Sepp Blatter.

Mutko said: "FIFA has the right philosophy.

"They must give different countries and continents a chance to stage World Cups to make the game even more popular around the world.

"We're allies with Blatter in that regard.
 

"The International Olympic Committee has shown the same philosophy by awarding the 2016 Summer Games to Rio de Janeiro."

Besides England and the United States, Russia will face five other rivals to host the 2018 World Cup.

They are Australia, Indonesia, Japan and joint bids from Holland and Belgium and Spain and Portugal.

Qatar and South Korea are bidding for just the 2022 World Cup.

Mutko said: "We are bidding to host both events but the 2018 World Cup is our top priority.

"I believe that the country, which is bidding to host the World Cup for the first time, should have a certain advantage over their rivals."
 

Blatter plans a two-day visit to Moscow in the next few days to meet Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and other top Government officials for talks on the country's World Cup bid.

Russia's plan calls for the use of 14 host cities with a total of 15 stadiums in four separate geographical clusters.

Russia currently has only one stadium, Moscow's 80,000-seat Luzhniki, the site of last year's Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea, capable of hosting World Cup matches.

Mutko said, however, he had received Government guarantees to build new stadiums and all the necessary infrastructure.

He said: "St Petersburg is already building a 60,000-seat stadium for Zenit, Sochi and Kazan also have plans for brand new arenas."

Mutko also presented former Soviet goalkeeper Rinat Dasayev, who played in three World Cup tournaments between 1982 and 1990, as the first ambassador of the Russian bid.

He said: "It's a great honour and privilege to be involved in this project, trying to bring the World Cup to my home country for the first time."