England star David Beckham, Dutch and Belgian footballing greats on bicycles, and a Japanese bid combining electronics with an origami popout opened the bidding to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 yesterday.
Australian football chief Frank Lowy kicked off FIFA's official ceremonies for the handover of detailed bidding books by the candidates, with South Korea, Qatar, Russia, Spain and Portugal, as well as the United States presenting theirs later on at the world governing body's headquarters in Switzerland.
"We have a lot of passion for the game and passion for bringing the biggest sporting event to the country," said Beckham as he handed over England's thick three volume bid book to the FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
"This is something that runs throughout our country, our veins, it's something that we were brought up with," Beckham added, accompanied by FA chiefs.
England are also highlighting the multi-national presence in the nation, as the nine bidders kick off lobbying of their fellow FIFA members ahead of the World Cup next month and a crucial on-site technical assessment later.
Blatter said he had received a call from new British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday, as well as a personal letter from Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, among expressions of all important government backing.
Cameron "not only expressed his determination to be behind the bid but also to be behind the World Cup 2010," Blatter added.
Lowy, the chairman of Football Federation Australia, was accompanied by Australian sports minister Kate Ellis.
Australia has enrolled an array of sporting prowess like swimmer Ian Thorpe and Formula One star Mark Webber, backed by Hollywood stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman to woo other nations over the coming months.
But Holland and Belgium added an original twist to star power, as their bidding committee led by former Dutch player and manager Ruud Gullit, Johann Cruyff and Paul van Himst cycled into the lobby of FIFA headquarters to unveil an environmentally friendly bid.
FIFA dropped its reluctance to consider joint bids since the World Cup 2002 in Japan and South Korea, paving the way for Holland-Belgium as well as Spain-Portugal.
"We will not make a difference now if there is a combined bid or a single bid," Blatter announced.
FIFA has traditionally sought to rotate one of sport's biggest events around continents.
There have been strong hints that after a first foray into Africa this year and Brazil in 2014, the World Cup finals would return to Europe four years later and the Asian region in 2022.
The final choice will be down to FIFA's 24-strong ruling executive committee, which will vote for the host countries on December 2.