The team was brimming with confidence yesterday as they handed over Leicester's World Cup bid.

The submission to become a host venue for the 2018 World Cup came as controversy continued to dog the national England bid – which has been stricken with infighting, rows and board resignations.

However, it was all smiles from the Leicester team, who made their case at Wembley Stadium as one of 15 cities vying for the chance to host cup games.

They say Leicester's strengths are a united front from Leicester City FC, Tigers, and the city and county councils, plus the proud record of diversity the city enjoys.

Leicester City Football Club today revealed it would to increase the capacity of the Walkers Stadium to either 42,000 or 45,000, if the bid was successful.

Mark Laywood, who has been putting together the bid, said: "We're really confident and we believe that we are in the best position possible to host matches at the World Cup, if England is selected as the host nation in 2018.

"Having a World Cup in Leicester will create a fantastic atmosphere in the city and will have a huge impact on the city.

"It will put us on the world stage."

Coun Ross Willmott, leader of Leicester City Council, said: "Nobody else has the same sense of community that we have here and we're such a diverse city that almost any nation could feel at home playing here in the World Cup.

"I've come into this as someone who doesn't like football so I brought a bit of scepticism to the bid team, but I've been caught up in World Cup fever and now I'm very excited about the prospect of Leicester being a host city."

The national bid's problems surfaced at yesterday's event as Newcastle and England ace Alan Shearer – championing the Newcastle-Gateshead bid – gave it his backing.

The national team is regrouping from the departure of seven board members, the latest being Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards, and Portsmouth pulling out of the race this week.

Shearer said: "There have been changes at the top, but I think people have looked at things, and how they could improve things, and I think that was only right that happened.

"But I still think we have an excellent bid overall in England.

"I think the right people are in charge of that and we're all pretty confident."

Other figures backing their cities including Liverpool's Sir Roger Hunt – one of the 1966 England World Cup-winning team.

Leicester had city councillors, grassroots sports teams and Filbert Fox – however the team stressed the event was not about taking along celebrities but the bid itself.

Leicester will find out if it has made it to the final 10 host venues on December 16.