Franz Beckenbauer, captain when West Germany won the World Cup at home in 1974 and coach when they won it in 1990, handed in the document in his current position as the vice-president of the German Football Association (DfB).
Beckenbauer and German bid co-ordinator Fedor Radmann spent an hour with Blatter who said afterwards: "I am pleeased that Franz Beckenbauer personally handed over this document to me.
"FIFA feels lucky that its most prestigious competition is attracting such great interest worldwide and especially in Germany.
"I'm sure the DFB, as we have come to expect, will produce a strong bid document," Blatter also said.
Beckenbauer said: "Germany wants the World Cup in its own country. The government is fully behind our bid and will support us."
England and South Africa have also formally submitted their bids while other countries like Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco and Brazil are also considering bidding.
Countries have until December 31 to register their intentions to bid. The decision will be announced by FIFA in March 2000.
Reuters
