The Los Angeles City Council on Friday launched an effort for the city to host some of the World Cup soccer games in 2018 or 2022.

If the United States win approval from soccer's world governing body FIFA to host a future World Cup, Los Angeles would be one of the potential host cities, Councilman Bernard Parks said.

He called on Angelenos to sign a petition on the website www.GoUSABid.com.

"It's important that we send a message to FIFA, the organizing body, that the city of Los Angeles is very, very serious about our bid," Parks said.

"It's absolutely essential that officials can see there's a groundswell of support for these games (in Los Angeles)," He said, adding that the city has a history of hosting major international events, including two Olympic games.

FIFA held the World Cup in cities throughout the United States in 1994 - including the championship match at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Los Angeles, drawing a total of 3.5 million people and an average attendance of nearly 70,000 per match.