2018 - The big vote

We run you through everything you need to know about Thursday's all-important World Cup vote.

All you need to know about the World Cup bids

Fifa's executive committee meet on Thursday to decide who will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals. Whilst both votes are hugely significant, our attention is very much on the 2018 result, with England bidding to host the finals for the first time since 1966. After months of lobbying, arguing, accusations and controversy - Fifa will announce its decision on Thursday. We are now going to give you a full rundown of each bid, on the voting process, and most crucially who is actually making the decision itself. So where to start - well who is bidding to host the finals? 2018 is heading to Europe, and four bids have been launched with England, Russia and joints bids from Spain & Portugal and Holland & Belgium. For the record 2022 is wanted by five separate bidders, the United States, Qatar, Australia, Japan and South Korea. So let's take a closer look at those countries bidding for 2018 - each bid has also been reviewed by Fifa in a technical report which we will include in our run through.

THE BIDS

ENGLAND Host cities: London, Manchester, Newcastle, Sunderland, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Plymouth, Sheffield What Fifa says: Overall evaluation is Low Risk Plus points: Transport, stadia, IT, security, marketing, legacy Negative points: Too few venue-specific training sites or venue-specific team hotels, too few training base camp hotels SkyBet odds: 5/2 RUSSIA Host cities: St Petersburg, Moscow, Sochi, Yekaterinburg, Kaliningrad, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Yaroslavi, Nizhny Novogorod, Kazan, Saransk, Samara and Volvograd. What Fifa says: Overall evaluation is Medium Risk Plus points: 13 planned new stadia, hotels, legacy Negative points: Huge transport challenge and major building programme needed SkyBet odds: 8/11 SPAIN & PORTUGAL Host cities: Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Lisbon, Seville, Bilbao, Porto, Zaragoza, Badajoz, Santander, Malaga, La Coruna, Donostia-San Sebastien, Valladolid, Vigo, Murcia, Alicante, Gijon. What Fifa says: Overall evaluation is Low Risk Plus points: Stadia, transport, hotels, legacy Negative points: Lack of clear security plan, co-hosting "a challenge" SkyBet odds: 3/1 BELGIUM & NETHERLANDS Host cities: Amsterdam, Enschede, Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Antwerp, Genk, Liege, Charleroi, Brussels, Ghent. What Fifa says: Overall evaluation is Medium Risk Plus points: Stadia, legacy Negative points: Too few hotel rooms, co-hosting "a challenge", lack of government guarantees SkyBet odds: 40/1

THE PROCEDURE

So how does the voting work? Well the principle is relatively easy - the voting is conducted by Fifa's executive committee of which there are 23 members, whilst president Sepp Blatter also gets a vote. However, the current situation has been somewhat complicated after two members were suspended following allegations made about corruption, although Oceania still hope to get their place back on the committee. Despite the suspensions the voting system remains unchanged, basically the first country to receive an overall majority wins. If no country receives a majority, then the bid with the lowest votes will drop out. If a committee member's first choice is eliminated then his vote will go to his second nominee. Belgium & Holland are widely expected to drop out after the first round of voting, but after that the second round looks crucial for England and Russia. Spain & Portugal already claim that they have eight votes secured which is more than enough to go into the second round - however, it is anticipated that votes dropping out from the first and second rounds could easily go to their rivals, be it Russia or England - which is why all three believe they have a realistic chance of winning. So now we are going to run you through the current list of voters and who it is anticipated they could vote for.

THE VOTERS

JULIO GRONDONA - 79, from Argentina, president of Argentina FA and Fifa senior vice-president. The South American contingent has already pledged its support to Spain & Portugal for 2018. Likely to back Qatar for 2022. ISSA HAYATOU - 64, from Cameroon, president of Confederation of African Football. Reportedly already in Spain & Portugal camp, but England were backing him for presidency and he will be one of the targets for their lobbying ahead of vote. One of those accused of taking bribes by Panorama on Monday. CHUNG MONG-JOON - 59, from South Korea, president of South Korean FA. Going against the majority in Asia and seemingly backing Russia over Spain & Portugal. If Russia go out in second round, he should switch to England. JACK WARNER - 67, from Trinidad & Tobago, president of Concacaf. Publicly has stated he has not decided, but he is England's biggest supporter - losing his backing would signal the end for English hopes. ANGEL MARIA VILLAR-LLONA - 60, from Spain, president of the Spanish Football Federation and co-chairman of Spain & Portugal bid. Obviously firmly in Spain & Portugal camp and was one of the central figures in the collusion row with Qatar. MICHEL PLATINI - 55, from France, president of Uefa. French legend is crucial to England's chances. Is known to be backing doomed Dutch-Belgian bid, is now torn between England and Russia for round two. Beckham and co will be working overtime on him in Zurich. GEOFF THOMPSON - 65, from England, former FA chairman and chairman of England's bid. Like Spanish counterpart his vote goes to his home nation. MICHEL D'HOOGE - 64, from Belgium, president of the Belgian FA. Will be voting for his home nation in opening round, but then he becomes one of the key voters with Spain and England both lobbying hard, but Villar Llona is likely to persuade him to side with them. RICARDO TEIXEIRA - 63, from Brazil, president of Brazilian Football Confederation. Part of the South American pact which has already pledged its support to Spain. One of those accused of taking bribes by Panorama on Monday. MOHAMED BIN HAMMAM - 61, from Qatar, president of Asian Football Confederation. Has totally denied claims that Qatar has colluded with Spain & Portugal over an exchange of votes. But he will be voting for the Iberian bid. SENES ERZIK - 68, from Turkey, president of Turkish FA. Still upset at Turkey losing their bid for Euro 2016 and so likely to vote against whatever Michel Platini does, so could very well end up being an England voter. CHUCK BLAZER - 65, from USA, general secretary of Concacaf. A big fan of England and will follow the likely Concacaf line of voting with England, although recently suggested a liking for Russia. WORAWI MAKUDI - 58, from Thailand, general secretary of Thai FA. England have been courting the Thai vote for years with successive English managers of the national side, but recent reports suggest he could very well go with Spain & Portugal. Body blow for England if he does switch and go with the Asian line. NICOLAS LEOZ - 82, from Paraguay, president of Conmebol. Another South American vote that is guaranteed for Spain & Portugal. One of those accused of taking bribes by Panorama on Monday. JUNJI OGURA - 72, from Japan, vice-president of Japanese FA. Will not follow the Asian line of Spain & Portugal by going with England who he has long supported. His favourite all-time player is Sir Bobby Charlton, who will be in Zurich if he needs any last minute persuading. MARIOS LEFKARITIS - 63, from Cyprus, president of Cyprus FA. Close friend of Platini and everyone suspects he will follow his voting pattern, so another who England could try and lure to their cause. JACQUES ANOUMA - 59, from Ivory Coast, president of Ivorian FA. Seemingly in the Spain & Portugal camp, but definitely one vote England are looking to capture and they will hope their allies can persuade him to do so. FRANZ BECKENBAUER - 65, from Germany, vice-president of German FA. An England fan, but he has close connections with Russia and will back their bid. RAFAEL SALGUERO - 63, from Guatemala, vice-chair of Concacaf. One of the most pivotal votes, Spain & Portugal hope they have lured him in, but England will be hugely disappointed if he does not follow the lead of his Concacaf boss Jack Warner. HANY ABO RIDA - 57, from Egypt, senior figure in Fifa. Has always said he would vote for technically best bid, but reports suggest he has already decided to join the Spain & Portugal cause. VITALY MUTKO - 51, from Russia, former president of Russian Football Union. Is leading Russia's charge for the 2018 finals, and will be one man who England need to get the better of. DAVID CHUNG - 48, from Papua New Guinea, acting president of Oceania. Has been placed in charge of Oceania following the suspension of Reynald Temarii. Fifa needed to approve his appointment as Temarii's successor on the committee, but in a huge blow to England and Australia - he has not been allowed to vote. SEPP BLATTER - 74, from Switzerland, president of Fifa. Could have the casting vote now Chung has been denied a vote. Likes England's bid but Russia are confident he will side with them. So that is it, you know who wants it, you know how it is decided and you know who will make the decision...stay tuned to skysports.com on Thursday when we will bring you the all important news.