Coe joins England's bid campaign

Sebastian Coe, the driving force behind London's successful bid for the 2012 Olympics, will add his weight to England's campaign to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, the FA said yesterday.

Coe has accepted an invitation to become a non-executive Board member of the World Cup bidding company.

The double Olympic 1,500 metres gold medallist will remain chairman of the 2012 Games Organising Committee (LOCOG) and will continue in his role as vice president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

However, he will temporarily step down from his position as chairman of FIFA's ethics committee.

England last hosted the World Cup in 1966 and are among 13 countries who have expressed an interest in hosting the 2018 or 2022 tournaments, including two joint bids. FIFA will make its decision on the hosts for both tournaments in December 2010.

Coe, a lifelong Chelsea fan, said: "I am passionate about football so I am delighted to be standing alongside many other people and football greats up and down the country in bidding for this event.

"Winning the football World Cup would be the hat-trick in a golden era for sport in the UK following the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014."