The World Cup could pump up to £100 million into Bristol's economy if the city becomes one of the football tournament's host cities.

That is the value placed by the city council on a replacement stadium for Ashton Gate hosting up to five matches as part of a successful bid by England to host the finals in 2018 or 2022.

The money would come not just from ticket sales for a match at the proposed stadium, which could hold up to 42,000 people, but from thousands more fans visiting the city to soak up the big match atmosphere while watching on giant screens in official "fan parks".

Bristol was one of 15 applicant cities with representatives at the official launch of the England World Cup bid at Wembley yesterday, attended by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and England players David Beckham and Wayne Rooney.

Bristol's bid team included representatives of the city council, Bristol City Football Club, West Sport and Destination Bristol.

City chairman Steve Lansdown went to Wembley to stress the central role played by his plans for a new ground in the World Cup bid.

Mr Lansdown told the Post current estimates for the cost of stadium were between £60-million and £80-million.

He recently sold 23 million shares in his financial services company Hargreaves Lansdown, raising more than £40-million, so he can invest in private projects, including but not exclusively the proposed stadium at Ashton Vale.

Initially intended to provide 30,000 seats, the new stadium could be expanded to a capacity of 42,000 to meet the minimum of 40,000 needed to qualify as a World Cup venue.

A planning application for the stadium is due to be lodged later this month and if approved, work could start early next year with a completion date of 2012.

The Bristol bid team received details of the official application process yesterday and was briefed on the requirements it will have to meet.

The stadium will need to meet strict standards on pitch size, lighting, safety, VIP hospitality, broadcasting, changing rooms and even storage space.

The time scale for the host city bid is tight, and will have to be carried out on the assumption the stadium will get the go-ahead from city council planners.

Judges will start visiting potential host cities on July 1, and the city council has until November 6 to submit its final bid.

Host cities were encouraged to generate support for their bids with local people. The England bid team will be issuing "back the bid" scarves to host cities to promote their bids, and people will be able to vote on-line in the next few weeks.

City council partnerships director Stephen Wray believed the event could generate £20-million per match.

The city could host up to five matches – four group games and possibly a quarter-final.

Mr Wray said the authority would learn lessons from Hanover, one of Bristol's twinned cities and a host venue during the World Cup in Germany three years ago.

He said: "There is a very short time scale – I'm working with a team of three colleagues, soon to be four. We have got to get the final sign-off from the council by the end of November.

"We can't have a bid without a stadium. The bid for planning is due later this month, we have to assume that will be achieved. We can't wait – we have to be prepared to take a risk if we believe the prize is worthwhile.

"We estimate if Bristol were to host four or five matches that means £80-million to £100-million."

Mr Wray added that the bid would require a major traffic management scheme.

The council is working with 20 organisations to put the bid together including the Bristol Primary Care Trust, Destination Bristol and transport giant First Group.

Mr Lansdown said: "A national success would be fantastic but a local one would be even more fantastic.

"This is where the work really starts.

"We aim to go to tender as the planning process goes through in July and August, with work starting early next year and finishing in 2012."

England 2018 wants 16 to 18 host cities spread across the country to ensure all regions are represented. Other cities applying to be hosts include London, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham, but Bristol is the only one in the South West.

Mr Lansdown said: "One of the keys to the FA bid is to get the football spread around and we're in the right location as the capital of the West Country."

Lord Mayor of Bristol Christopher Davies was also at Wembley to back the city's bid. He said: "The football World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world and represents a massive, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Bristol and the wider region.

"Should Bristol decide to bid to be a host city it will require a lot of hard work and substantial investment – but partners across Bristol are committed to working together to make this a reality."

City chief executive Colin Sexstone also attended the launch.

He said: "This is an amazing opportunity for Bristol to grab."

Although the bid focuses on 2018, England is also in the running to host the 2022 tournament if a non-European host for 2018 is picked by FIFA next year. The hosts for both tournaments will be decided at the same time.