Belgium and Netherlands bid to co-host World Cup

The Dutch and Belgian football associations have submitted their bid to FIFA to co-host the World Cup finals in 2018 or 2022, a spokesman for the bid said yesterday.

"We have sent a letter to FIFA indicating our wish to host the tournament which should reach them by Monday," the spokesman said.

FIFA said it already had six proposals on the table - from Indonesia, England, Japan, Qatar, Russia and a joint application from Spain and Portugal.

The United States said it would formally submit its bid to FIFA on Monday and several other associations have indicated that they will join the process.

The 2010 World Cup will be held in South Africa while Brazil will host the 2014 tournament. FIFA will announce the hosts of both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in 2010.