FIFA fielding bids from lineup of 11 candidates

GENEVA (AP)—The United States has followed up with confirmation to FIFA of its bid to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Soccer’s governing body will confirm Tuesday which candidates formally registered. Other announced bidders last month were Australia, England, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Qatar, Russia and South Korea plus joint bids from Belgium-Netherlands and Spain-Portugal.

FIFA’s 24-man executive committee will choose the two winning bids in December 2010.

England and Spain are considered favorites for 2018. The World Cup had never left Europe for consecutive tournaments until FIFA awarded 2010 to South Africa and 2014 to Brazil.

England’s bid was submitted Monday, with chairman David Triesman saying it was for both editions.

“By declaring our interest for both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments we are maximizing our chances of winning the right to host the world’s greatest sporting occasion,” he said

Russian Football Union spokesman Andrei Malasolov said it had no preference on hosting in 2018 or 2022 and would leave it to FIFA to decide.

Five of the bidders have previously staged a World Cup: England in 1966; Mexico in 1970 and 1986; the United States in 1994; and South Korea and Japan as co-hosts in 2002.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter prefers bids from a solo host, and the two joint proposals from Europe can be converted to single-nation proposals by the May 2010 deadline for candidates to submit bid books.

FIFA will send out more details of bidding and hosting requirements next month, and candidates must send signed bidding agreements to FIFA by Dec. 11. Candidates will also be visited by FIFA officials and executives over the coming year.

Winning bidders also get to host an eight-nation Confederations Cup one year prior to hosting the World Cup.

Label: Sport