England 2018 pledge to meet governing body's grassroots investment.
Football United, England 2018's global fund, will aim to match FIFA's current annual investment in grassroots football and social development, it was pledged today.
The proposed fund is the centrepiece of England 2018's legacy plans in its bid for the FIFA World Cup.
Alongside FIFA's contribution, this would effectively double the investment across the world by 2018 in this area if the fund's aims are met.
The announcement of the Football United target comes, with 50 days to go in the campaign, as the FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter is due at No 10 Downing Street today as a guest of Prime Minister David Cameron, to discuss England's bid.
Mr. Blatter and the Prime Minister will see a presentation on England's Bid including personal presentations by two of England 2018's legacy ambassadors, Eddie Afekafe and Lauren O'Sullivan, who will tell their stories of how English football changed their lives and how Football United would do the same for millions more young people.
An inspiring film, which brings the Football United vision alive, features David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Kolo Toure and Asamoah Gyan. A version has been specially tailored for the visit of President Blatter.
Learn more about English football's current investment in global development projects.
In the video Beckham, who has promised to take his David Beckham Academy around the world should the bid succeed, makes a direct appeal to President Blatter.
The England 2018 vice-president said: "Football has been my life. I am incredibly proud of what I have achieved - but what gives me most pride is the work I can do to help young people that's why I founded the David Beckham Academy. I am inspired by what England promises to do. I hope you will be too. Football United, imagine the type of change we could create together."
England 2018 estimates that its combined legacy plans would reach 1 billion people globally by the end of 2018.
England 2018 Board member Paul Elliott said: "Football United is not just about aiming to double the funds for grassroots football and social development in areas such as health, education and anti-discrimination.
"It is about bringing people together across the world through football, in the common cause of development utilising the expertise, organisations and brands we have in England to deliver these ambitious plans in a sustainable way.
"Money raised will be in addition to, not instead of, FIFA's current investment in this area and England 2018 will work with organisations and programmes like Football for Hope and streetfootballworld enabling the great work already being carried out to be expanded significantly.
"Football United will break new frontiers, helping more people than ever before. A FIFA World Cup in England is not just about one country - it represents a FIFA World Cup for the world. "
This latest announcement about Football United follows on from last week's "Pledges for Partners" in which England 2018 unveiled 18 pledges for key World Cup stakeholder groups.
FIFA acknowledged the benefits of the Football United concept following the inspection visit in August when the head of the inspection team, Chile FA President Harold Mayne-Nicholls said: "It was great to see that all of the clubs are running big social projects, trying to involve as many youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds as possible. This kind of broad approach of your programme "Football United", to improve living conditions, to improve social structures – this development is very important to FIFA."
The English football family such as the Football Association, Premier League, Football League and non-professional clubs have worked in more than 100 countries over the last decade.
England 2018 has consulted many organisations over its plans for Football United such as the Football Foundation, the United Kingdom's largest sports charity.
Football Foundation Chief Executive Paul Thorogood said: "Having invested over £670 million in grassroots football facilities and community projects in this country over the past decade, we know how effective football can be as a tool to help tackle major social issues. This is an exciting opportunity."
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