The government has taken a first step towards bidding to host the World Cup for the first time since 1966.

Chancellor Gordon Brown said hosting the 2018 World Cup on the heels of the 2012 Olympics would be “a magnificent double for this country”.

The government will investigate the costs, benefits and legacy of hosting the tournament, as well as the chances of winning it.

The official decision to stage a bid rests with the Football Association.

Mr Brown described the possible bid as “a commitment to the young people of this country”, who, he said, could be inspired by the goal of playing for England in 2018.

Lord Stratford - the former sports minister Tony Banks - told the BBC the government could be seen to be pre-empting what should be an FA decision.

“To a certain extent you could say the FA is being bounced into this, but I think they’re going to be willingly bounced into it,” he told Radio Five Live.

He said it was “interesting” that Gordon Brown was announcing the study.

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