The British government wants its star soccer players to urge fans to stay away from prostitutes during the World Cup finals in Germany.

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Letters have been sent to England's coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, team captain David Beckham and the rest of the team urging them to shun sexual exploitation in the same way they have campaigned against drugs and racism, the Sunday Times of London reported.

Tessa Jowell, the culture and sport secretary and minister for women, says 40,000 foreign sex workers are expected to arrive in Germany for the tournament.

Although prostitution was legalized in Germany in 2002, many of the women, working in scores of "mobile brothels" in car parks near stadiums, may be victims of forced prostitution and people-trafficking, the newspaper said.

In Germany, preparations are being made for the influx of prostitutes. A new bordello has been built in Berlin and a row of drive-in sex booths for motorists was built in Cologne, the newspaper said.