World Cup decision day: Live

1506 GMT: Nearing the moment of truth and there is a palpable sense of tension inside the MesseZentrum conference centre.

A mini-stampede as an announcement over the tannoy advises journalists to head to the auditorium where the vote results will be revealed by FIFA President Sepp Blatter. Spanish television journalists nearby swap high-fives. Calm down people.

1504 GMT: Just a matter of minutes now before the two big decisions — will football be coming home to England in eight years time or will the widely-backed Russian bid hold sway? And will Qatar get the chance to host the Middle East’s first ever World Cup four years later?

1458 GMT: Here are the possible scenarios:

To win: One bid needs an absolute majority – that means 12 of the 22 votes.

If no majority: The bid with fewest votes drops out and another round of voting occurs until majority achieved

If tie: FIFA president Sepp Blatter has the casting vote

Results put in two envelopes and taken to at Zurich’s MesseZentrum conference hall where Blatter will announce winner at around 1510 GMT (in ten minutes time…)

1450 GMT: The 2022 bidders made their final half-hour presentations to FIFA yesterday while 2018 hopefuls had their last chance to impress this morning.

1445 GMT: So, here’s how it’s going to work. The 22 members of the FIFA executive committee have cast their votes now (in a secret ballot) and we’re waiting to hear which of Russia, England or — jointly — Netherlands and Belgium or Spain and Portugal have got the nod for 2018.

Qatar, Australia, USA, Japan, South Korea are in the run-off for 2022.

Just 25 minutes to go before the envelopes are opened…

After years of planning and lobbying by competing nations, the decision on who will get to host the World Cup in 2018 and 2022 is finally due to be announced by FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland at 1510 GMT.

Stay with us for a live update on who will get the chance to host the largest sporting event on Earth in eight and twelve years’ time…