Spain and Portugal Betting: 4-1 The main opposition. Highly respected football nations with glorious histories, players and stadiums. But Spain hosted the World Cup in 1982 and Portugal Euro 2004. Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, has also been reluctant to sanction joint bids since the experience with Japan and South Korea in 2002. This may convince Spain to go it alone. Either way, England face a challenge. With plans for a renovated Nou Camp in Barcelona boasting a capacity of 106,000 seats and Real Madrid’s magnificent Bernabéu, Spain and Portugal would be a charismatic choice with fans around the world, particularly in South America, while transport links by road, rail and air are good. Games would also fall into the vital European prime-time slots for television.

Top ambassador: Luís Figo, former Real Madrid and Portugal winger, who sits on the bid committee.

Russia 7-2 A dark horse, with Russia making a convincing push to raise the profile of its game. Distances across a vast country would mean grouping matches in five regions, while the nation’s main stadium in Moscow, the Luzhniki, would have to be expanded to meet Fifa’s demands for an 80,000-seat venue for the final. But still a front-runner.

Top ambassador: Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister, has given his personal backing.

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Australia 10-3 An aggressive campaign using Kevin Rudd, the Prime Minister, who travelled to Zurich to meet Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, in July, as its figurehead, while the Government is paying the £25 million cost of financing the bid. An outsider with Blatter, who suggested that they aim for 2022, but would be popular with nations in Asia and the Pacific Rim.

Top ambassador: Harry Kewell, former Leeds United and Liverpool winger. Remember him?

Belgium and the Netherlands 33-1 Another joint bid, but a more convincing association that worked for Euro 2000. Lacks an 80,000-capacity stadium for the final, while there are doubts that there are enough large-scale grounds to cope. Largely regarded as an outside bet, without much charisma or excitement and without a cohesive national voice.

Top ambassador: Christian Karembeu, former Middlesbrough midfield player and their special adviser. But he is, er, French.

Japan 33-1 Not regarded as a serious contender, particularly after hosting in 2002 with South Korea. Bid was based on building a 100,000-seat stadium in Tokyo that would have doubled for the 2016 Olympic Games. But Tokyo failed to win the Olympics and chances of a World Cup appear to be sliding into oblivion.

Top ambassador: Astro Boy, Japan’s recently unveiled cartoon mascot. Oh dear.

United States 33-1 A potential fly in the ointment, unless they can be persuaded to target 2022. Judged to have held a hugely successful tournament in 1994, with record profits and attendances. Despite that, and the invasion of David Beckham, the US has not taken football to its national heart.

Top ambassador: not David Beckham.

Indonesia Rank outsider looking to slide into place for 2022, with the intention of staging the first “green” World Cup.

South Korea Back in the hat again after co-hosting 2002 tournament, but looking now to stage 2022 World Cup.

Qatar Wants to stage the first World Cup in the Gulf in 2022.

Words by Kevin Eason