England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup finals ended in humiliation on Thursday, gaining only two votes to hold the tournament and being eliminated in the first round of voting.

Russia gained an outright majority in the second round of voting and will host the tournament, with Qatar hosting the competition in the Middle East for the first time in 2022.

"I cannot believe what has happened, and I am naturally very, very disappointed," said Geoff Thompson, the former FA chairman who was one of the two executive committee member to vote for England

"The votes that were promised clearly didn't materialise. I never imagined we would go out in the first round." England had put a lot of effort into a late schmoozing process, with David Beckham Prince William and Prime Minister David Cameron in Zurich ahead of the vote.

They had promises of at least six votes, with many clearly deserting the Three Lions once it came to the crunch.

"Some of [our votes] didn't materialise, I don't know which ones," said Andy Anson, chief executive of the bid.

"It would be nice to know because, when people look you in the eye and promise you something, you tend to hope they live up to their word, but clearly that's not happened."