The Government wants a share of the profits from what could be the richest World Cup on record if England wins the bid to stage the 2018 finals.

But there may be no profit, as talks drag on over the Government’s contribution to the £15 million cost of financing the bid and fears continue to surface that rows over cash and personalities could overshadow England’s prospects of impressing Fifa.

With the Government yet to pay its share of the campaign fund, there is an increasing danger that England’s bid will be the most impoverished on show to Fifa’s executive committee and the FA will be forced to attempt to win over its 24 members on a budget that will be only about a third of the cash lavished on the London 2012 Olympics bid. One source said: “It is going to be like fighting with one arm tied behind your back.”

London’s successful and much-praised Olympic campaign cost an estimated £30 million, with £10 million from the Government, £10 million from the London Development Agency and the rest raised from sponsorship.

The FA was hoping that the Government would hand over a £5 million grant to add to the £10 million it was putting in to finance the cost of the 2018 bid, encouraged by the proclamation by Gordon Brown that he would do anything he could to win the World Cup finals for England.

But the Prime Minister’s words have proved hollow and the only offer on the table is a conditional £2.5 million loan. It is understood that one proposal is for the Government to use the £2.5 million almost as an equity stake in the 2018 bid company after ministers decided that the taxpayer should get a share of the spoils. The 2018 board is still trying to clarify the Government’s demands and whether the money would have to be repaid if the bid fails.

The 2006 World Cup in Germany produced a profit of about £126 million and estimates are that a tournament in England would produce vast revenues, for the FA and the national economy, which could reap as much as £3.2 billion as fans flood into the country.

In stark contrast to the Government’s attitude to the Olympics bid, in which Tony Blair as Prime Minister was deeply involved, ministers are said to be demanding value for money, with one source saying: “We are not wanting to finance canapés and drinks for Fifa members. This is a time of financial stringency and taxpayers want a return on their money.”

But the lengthy financial negotiations come as the FA faces implementing a 10 per cent cut in its budget after the collapse of the British arm of Setanta Sport, which left a £100 million shortfall in television income, and a reported £86 million black hole punched in its accounts by the debts on the new Wembley Stadium.

All that when England’s competitors for 2018 are preparing to spend lavishly to win. Australia’s Government has already earmarked £25 million, while Kevin Rudd, the Prime Minister, flew to Fifa’s headquarters in Zurich in June to meet Sepp Blatter, the president of the world governing body, to confirm personally his country’s interest.

In Russia, Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister, has virtually offered a blank cheque to the country’s football federation and promised to build five new stadiums.

National will and the readiness of the Government to supply funding could turn out to be as big a factor as having magnificent stadiums and infrastructure when it comes to the final vote in December 2010. But the 2018 bid board faces more pressing problems over the wide-ranging criticisms of the leadership of Lord Triesman, the FA independent chairman and chairman of the bid.

Triesman will be in Doha, Qatar, with the England team for their friendly international against Brazil this weekend to meet Mohamed bin Hammam, the president of the Asian Football Confederation, who will have a powerful voice behind closed doors when the Fifa executive votes for the host nation for 2018.

The trip will be only a respite, because Triesman faces what could be another stormy board meeting on November 24. Revelations in The Times yesterday that Lord Coe, the chairman of the 2012 Olympics bid team and a non-executive member of the 2018 board, had expressed concern over the direction of the bid will not ease fears.

Critics refuse to be named publicly for fear of being accused of destabilising the bid, but they are known to be concerned about five key areas: Triesman’s leadership; a board that is split and disaffected; a lack of clarity in the bid message; a lack of an experienced and “streetwise” lobbying team who know the Fifa constituency; and the divide in the “football family”, with the Premier League seemingly consigned to the sidelines.

Although Sir Dave Richards, the Premier League chairman, sits on the board, there is a rift between Triesman and Richard Scudamore, the League’s chief executive.

Triesman hit back yesterday and said that he would happily answer his detractors when they revealed themselves publicly. But that may be too late with the England 2018 team facing a crucial moment in the campaign on December 4, when they will be in Cape Town for the 2010 World Cup draw, at which all the competing bid cities will be present.

Sources say the 2018 team are desperate to present a united front at the draw, which will be attended by all the 24-man Fifa executive. It is a one-off opportunity to showcase the strength and authority of England’s bid, but could yet be fractured by the internal dissent in the England 2018 camp.