The Football Association (FA) has announced the first two vice-presidents to be appointed as part of its bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

David Beckham, along with former Liverpool and England midfielder, John Barnes, will support the newly-formed executive board, with more vice-presidents to be announced at a later date. Beckham, who recently passed Bobby Charlton in the list of England's most-capped players, said: "I have had the privilege to play in three World Cup tournaments and it's an incredible experience. Our fans are the best in the world and they deserve to watch the greatest tournament here."

Barnes said: "There's a huge responsibility attached to being involved but there's also a feeling of great honour. There's a lot of work to do if England is to win the right to stage the tournament, and as we begin the process, there will be young players across the country who dream of playing in the World Cup Final." The FA's president, Prince William, has also given his full support to England's bid to host the event in ten years time, and it is expected that world governing body FIFA will announce a timetable for the bidding process in late October.

In a message to the bid team, Prince William said: "Given the quality of the bid team that has been assembled, the superb facilities that we have in this country, and, above all, the extraordinary passion that the English have for our national game, I am wholly confident that we will submit a truly world class bid to FIFA."