Initially formed as part of efforts to drive the capital's bid to be named as a host city should England be awarded the event, the refined organisation is now set to work with England 2018's senior management team.

The new-look London United group will include Ivan Gazidis, Arsenal Football Club's chief executive officer; Daniel Levy, chair of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and Wembley Stadium managing director Roger Maslin.

Members of the Greater London Authority and the England 2018 bid team will also form part of London United, including Simon Greenberg, the former chair who left the group to become England 2018's chief of staff.

Johnson said: "We're not taking anything for granted - we really want to bring the tournament to the capital. We have brought together a crack new team to build on the first stage of the bid and get that first goal in the back of the net."

England 2018 chair Lord Triesman added: "We are delighted that the Mayor has decided to chair London United. It demonstrates that the bid has political support at the highest level and that London, the world's leading city, is fully committed to bringing the World Cup to England."

Image: Lord Triesman (left) with London mayor Boris Johnson

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