An ambitious bid is being launched to bring World Cup football to Leicester in 2018.

England's plans to bring the event back to the country for the first time since 1966 were being unveiled at Wembley today.

Leicester City chairman Milan Mandaric and leading councillors were heading a delegation to London to confirm the city's interest in hosting at least one match at the Walkers stadium during the competition.

Mr Mandaric said: "The Walkers Stadium would make a magnificent venue to host World Cup matches, should England win the bid to host the 2018 tournament.

"It is a stadium that was designed and built with the idea of potential expansion. We look forward to working with everyone on the bid team to try to turn this big idea into a reality."

With a global audience of more than one billion, people behind the city bid believe holding a World Cup match in Leicester would boost tourism and attract international investment.

As a host city, Leicester would be expected to stage fan festivals for the estimated 200,000 international visitors likely to descend on the area throughout the month-long tournament.

Detailed plans will start being drawn up from tomorrow ahead of the application deadline in October.

Early ideas include putting up huge television screens in Victoria Park and Abbey Park for the legions of visiting football fans to watch all 64 finals games.

The group putting the bid together hopes the city's multi-cultural make-up, good transport links and history of staging large and successful events will help.

City council leader Ross Willmott, one of the party representing Leicester in London today, said: "Our facilities, the ease of access, our diverse population, our record as a great sporting city and the huge enthusiasm of our people for sporting success all give us a real chance of helping England win the bid for 2018."

David Parsons, leader of Leicestershire County Council, said: "Being part of a winning England bid will be a big boost to the economy of the whole area."

The campaign is being put together by the city and county councils, Leicester City, Leicestershire police and Prospect Leicestershire – the agency responsible for developing the county's economy. Its chairman, Nick Carter, who chaired an initial meeting with FA representatives last month, said the boost to the area that would come from staging a match would be felt long before and after the tournament itself.

He said: "It would give Leicester and Leicestershire the worldwide profile we deserve."

If Leicester was picked, it would mean expanding the Walkers Stadium from its current capacity of 32.000 to 40,000 – the minimum requirement for a World Cup Finals match.

The FA has also said it is looking for host cities that will be able to provide sufficient hotel accommodation for teams, officials and fans, good travel links and world-class training facilities. Further criteria will be announced today.

Leicester City legend Alan Birchenall, said the excitement created around the county would be massive.

He said: "It is probably the world's greatest sporting event. If this city can be a part of that, what a great thing it would be for Leicester City Football Club, the city and the county."

Leicester City chief executive Lee Hoos said: "This would really put us on the world football stage."

The FA will announce its chosen venues in December.

England are bookies' favourites for 2018 with Australia, Russia and a joint bid from Spain and Portugal close behind.