Bill Clinton, the former US president, will help promote the campaign to take the World Cup tournament back to his home country.

Clinton was named honorary chairman of the US bid, which is hoping to host either the 2018 or 2022 tournaments, on Monday. He was president in 1994 when the US held the finals.

"Few heads of state, if any, have played as important a role in positively affecting social change in their years after office as Bill Clinton," Sunil Gulati, the US Soccer Federation president said.

"The goals and principles of his cause-based work mirrors those of Fifa and those outlined in the US bid to bring the World Cup back to the United States. We are honoured by his commitment to our cause."

Fifa have a joint bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, but with Fifa said to prefer a European nation for the first tournament the States are realistically hoping to hold the 2022 event. That puts them up against Australia, Japan, South Korea and Qatar.

"In my travels around the world I've seen the transformative power soccer has to bring people together and transform lives on and off the field," said Clinton.

"I continue to be impressed with Fifa's work to promote the game as an agent for positive social change and I?m proud to represent the United States in our bid to bring the World Cup tournament back to American soil, allowing us to inspire action and cooperation on an even greater scale."