Post by QPR Report on Feb 6, 2009 9:19:28 GMT
BBC - The race to host World Cup 2018
When Bobby Moore wiped his hands on his shorts before collecting the World Cup trophy from the Queen at Wembley, he provided one of the most iconic images in British sport.
That was more than 42 years ago, and England fans need no reminding that it was the last time their team lifted the World Cup or, indeed, any major tournament.
But it is not only the England team that suffered many a painful World Cup exit. The Football Association was also left with a bitter taste in its mouth after Germany won the right to stage the 2006 tournament ahead of England.
The FA is mounting a strong campaign to host the 2018 World Cup and recently put the finishing touches to its bid team.
Fifa has gone for a more "Olympic-style" bidding war for 2018, with its 24-man executive committee to make its decision in December 2010, when the world governing body will also choose the 2022 hosts.
Of the 18 World Cup tournaments held since 1930, 10 have been staged in Europe, six in Latin America and one each in the United States and Asia.
With South Africa and Brazil to host the 2010 and 2014 competitions respectively, Fifa has said no African countries can bid for the 2018 showpiece while South America must wait until 2026 for the chance to bid again.
Successful hosts must meet certain conditions if they are to win the right to stage the World Cup, providing at least 12 stadiums with minimum capacities of 40,000, with the final to be held in a stadium with a capacity of at least 80,000.
BBC Sport profiles the opposition England faces if it is to host the tournament again.
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England
Fifa World Ranking: 8
Main Stadium: Wembley, 90,000 (London)
Last World Cup hosted: 1966 Odds: 11-8
Wembley - the home of English football cost £757m to build
Originally installed as favourites, by the British bookies at least, it will be 52 years since Bobby Moore lifted the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley by the time 2018 comes around.
Bringing football home is part of the government's proposed "decade of sport", which includes the London 2012 Olympics, the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Prince William and former England captain David Beckham will be out on schmoozing duty for England as they try to win over the Fifa panel.
Stadium-wise, England, who staged the European Championships in 1996, should have a very strong case, with Wembley the potential venue for the 2018 World Cup final. Several clubs have expressed an interest in extending their stadiums to put themselves forward should England win the right to host the World Cup.
Bid chief executive Andy Anson said: "Our intentions have obviously been well known for some time but there's a real sense of significance and excitement in the fact that we're now acknowledged as an official bidding nation.
"We believe we have a very strong case to bring the tournament to England and the challenge now is to put together a compelling presentation to showcase to the world."
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Indonesia
Fifa World Ranking: 144
Main Stadium: Bung Karno Stadium, 88,000 (Jakarta)
Last World Cup hosted: n/a Odds: 50-1
Indonesia's Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta holds 88,000
In a bidding war full of heavyweights, no-one can criticise Indonesia for not thinking big.
With a population of 235m, it does fulfil one of the major requirements for hosting the world's most-watched sports event: it has a stadium capable of holding at least 80,000 spectators for the opening match and final.
Jakarta boasts the government-owned Bung Karno Stadium, which has a capacity of 88,000 and staged the 2007 Asian Cup final, when Iraq beat Saudi Arabia 1-0.
Indonesia became the first Asian team to play at a World Cup at the 1938 tournament in France, appeared under the colonial name of the Dutch East Indies.
Finding a dozen 40,000-seater stadiums, sufficient policing and transport links within the country may prove a problem and would require some serious infrastructure planning.
Indonesia Football Association secretary general Nugraha Besoes said: "10 years are enough for us to build, renovate or expand our stadiums to meet the requirement. This seems like only a dream for us now, but we must dare to dream big."
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Portugal and Spain
Fifa World Ranking: Portugal - 11, Spain - 1
Main Stadium: Portugal - Estadio da Luz, 62,000 (Benfica)
Spain - Santiago Bernabeu, 80,354 (Madrid)
Last World Cup hosted: Spain - 1982 Odds: 4-1
Benfica's Estadio da Luz (left) and Barcelona's Nou Camp
After Japan and South Korea teamed up to stage the 2002 World Cup, Spain and Portugal have followed suit to submit a joint bid to host the 2018 tournament.
But the issue of joint bids is still a big sticking point and Fifa president Sepp Blatter has sent out mixed messages over whether they will be considered.
Still, Portugal and Spain are likely to be strong contenders if joint bids considered. Spain hosted the World Cup in 1982 and the European Championship in 1964, while Portugal hosted the 2004 European Championship after beating a rival bid from their Iberian neighbours.
Spain's biggest stadiums are Barcelona's Nou Camp (98,772) and Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu (80,354), and seven other football grounds throughout the country exceed a 40,000 capacity, including the Estadio Olimpico de Sevilla, where the 2003 Uefa Cup final between Celtic and FC Porto was held.
Portugal built seven modern stadiums from scratch and renovated three others for Euro 2004 as well as upgrading the country's transport infrastructure.
Benfica's Estadio da Luz is the country's biggest venue, with a 62,000 capacity for international games, while Sporting Lisbon's Estádio José Alvalade and FC Porto's Estadio do Dragao each hold 52,000.
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Qatar
Fifa World Ranking: 86
Main Stadium: Qatar Khalifa International Stadium, 50,000 (Doha)
Last World Cup hosted: n/a Odds: 33-1
Qatar play international matches at the intimate Jassim Bin Hamad
Qatar is looking to become the first Arab country to host the World Cup finals after unsuccessful attempts in the past from Egypt, Morocco and a joint bid from Tunisia and Libya.
The oil and gas-rich state failed in its attempt to host the 2016 Olympics but successfully hosted the 2006 Asian Games. It will also host football's Asian Cup in 2011 and is already home to successful international tennis and golf events as well as an impressive MotoGP circuit.
The Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium is the home ground of club side Al-Saad and, despite the fact it only has a capacity of 18,000, it is where the national team play because of the intimidating atmosphere that it can generate.
The Qatar Khalifa International Stadium in Doha is an impressive "mini-Wembley", while there are also two 25,000-capacity grounds but far more would need to be built if the country was to hold the World Cup.
This might make Fifa less inclined to go for Qatar especially considering the country only has a population of just over 1.3m people.
But the idea of playing the tournament in the June desert heat, when temperatures regularly top 40C, will probably provide an insurmountable obstacle. The country is planning to build a first-ever underground football stadium, but it is only designed to hold 11,000.
That said, Qatar enjoys considerable influence in Asian football given that it is home to Asian Football Confederation chief Mohammed Bin Hammam, a close ally of Blatter.
Qatar FA general secretary Saud Al Mohannadi said: "We have the stadiums and we have experience hosting top sports events."
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Japan
Fifa World Ranking: 34
Main Stadium: International Stadium, 72,000 (Yokohama)
Last World Cup hosted: 2002 Odds: 20-1
Brazil lifted the 2002 World Cup at Yokohama International Stadium
The fact that Japan co-hosted the World Cup seven years ago with South Korea makes it unlikely that the competition will return there so soon.
The country is also bidding for the 2016 Olympics, having staged the Games back in 1964, and has plans to build a new 120,000 capacity stadium as well as renovate the National Stadium in the capital, Tokyo.
At present, Japan's biggest venue, the International Stadium in Yokohama, falls 8,000 seats short of Fifa's requirement of 80,000 for the final.
Japanese Football Association president Motoaki Inukai said: "We will definitely need the success of the 2016 Tokyo Olympics bid. If they don't win it, it will be physically impossible for us to host the World Cup."
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Australia
Fifa World Ranking: 29
Main Stadium: Melbourne Cricket ground, 100,108 (Melbourne)
Last World Cup hosted: n/a Odds: 4-1
The colossal MCG took centre stage at the Commonwealth Games in 2006
Australia's government has pledged to put £20.36m into the bid over three years and already has a strong track record organising big sporting events, such as the 2000 Olympics, the 2003 Rugby World Cup and the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
The country has never held a football World Cup before which will work in its favour, but given both the 2010 and 2014 World Cups will take place in the southern hemisphere, the best hope may be for 2022.
Stadium-wise, Australia has some huge facilities, although most are based around the oval field used for Aussie Rules football or Cricket.
The giant Melbourne Cricket Ground would potentially stage the final as it can hold 100,108 spectators. The ANZ Stadium in Sydney was the venue for the Olympic track and field events in 2000 and holds 83,500, so it would be in contention for the opening game and final.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said: "Winning the right to host the 2018 Fifa World Cup is a Herculean task, but overcoming tough odds is what Australian football does best."
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Netherlands and Belgium
Fifa World Ranking: Belgium - 54, Netherlands - 3
Main Stadium: Belgium - King Baudouin Stadium, 50,122 (Brussels)
Netherlands - Feyenoord Stadium (de Kuip), 51,577 (Rotterdam)
Last World Cup hosted: n/a Odds: 14-1
Euro 2000 began in Brussels but France celebrated in Rotterdam
Belgium and the Netherlands successfully hosted the Euro 2000, but as far as stadiums go, there's a bit of work to do.
The King Baudouin Stadium (formerly known as Heysel) in north Brussels was used for the opening game of Euro 2000 but has a capacity of just 50,122.
The Feyenoord Stadium, which hosted the Euro 2000 final, holds 51,577, again short of Fifa's requirements, while Ajax's Amsterdam Arena can accommodate just 51,628.
As with the joint bid from Portugal and Spain, the chance of Belgium and the Netherlands winning the right to host the World Cup looks doubtful.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter said: "As long as we have single-country bids which provide all the necessary guarantees, we will reject co-hosting bids."
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Mexico
Fifa World Ranking: 26
Main Stadium: Aztec Stadium, 105,000 (Mexico City)
Last World Cup hosted: 1986 Odds: 16-1
Maradona's 'hand of God' at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, World Cup 1986
Mexico has already hosted the World Cup twice: in 1970, when the tournament was won by Brazil, and 1986, when a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina triumphed over West Germany.
Colombia should have staged the 1986 tournament but decided they could not afford to host it under the terms that Fifa demanded. Mexico was eventually chosen instead, beating bids from the US and Canada to become the first country to hold the tournament twice.
Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, which holds 105,000, hosted both the opening match and the final of the 1986 World Cup, as well the quarter-final between Argentina and England, which witnessed Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" goal.
Renovated in 1999, the Jalisco Stadium in Guardalajara holds 72,600 and hosted games during the previous World Cups.
High temperatures might prove a possible disadvantage when it comes to winning votes, but Mexico can boast a proven track record when it comes to staging the biggest football event in the world.
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Russia
Fifa World Ranking: 9
Main Stadium: Luzhniki Stadium, 78,360, (Moscow)
Last World Cup hosted: n/a Odds: 6-1
Man Utd beat Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium to win the Champions League
Russia looks like being a major contender to England, but the vast distances between stadia - there are nine time zones - and the problems Euro 2012 hosts Ukraine and Poland are experiencing may persuade Fifa members to opt for a safer bet.
It can offer plenty of top-class venues with Moscow alone containing eight stadiums, the biggest of which is the Luzhniki Stadium, which holds 78,360 and acts as home to Torpedo and Spartak Moscow.
The stadium also hosted the 1999 Uefa Cup final and last season's Uefa Champions League final.
Moscow hosted the 1980 Olympics and made a bid for the 2012 Games, losing out in the first round of voting to Britain.
Should Russia triumph in 2018, then England would be immediately ruled out of the running for 2022, given Europe would not be allowed to stage the tournament twice in a row.
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United States of America
Fifa World Ranking: 22
Main Stadium: Rose Bowl, 91,000, (Pasadena)
Last World Cup hosted: 1994 Odds: 20-1
The Rose Bowl hosted the World Cup final in 1994 and the Women's in 1999
The United States is still waiting for "soccer" to truly capture the nation's imagination, despite staging the World Cup in 1994, when over 3.58m people attended.
And the impact of David Beckham's time in Major League Soccer with LA Galaxy should not be underestimated, even if he does cut his time there short to stay with AC Milan, in terms of boosting the profile of the sport.
USA 94 was hailed as a huge success even though high temperatures during games and awkward kick-off times for European television audiences were definite minus points.
Massive television and marketing opportunities mean it will be a strong contender this time around as well, and the US Soccer Federation has also suggested the election of President Barack Obama could help persuade Fifa to award them either the 2018 or 2022 tournament.
Federation president Sunil Gulati said: "Given everything that President Obama has said, everything he stands for, everything he's talked about in terms of reaching out to the world, trying to bring the global game to the US and opening our borders up for a festival of 32 countries and hundreds of thousands of people from all corners of the world would be viewed in a very positive way."
The US says it has 25-35 stadiums that would be capable of hosting matches.
The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, which hosted Brazil's victory over Italy in the 1994 final, has not been refurbished but holds 91,000.
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South Korea
Fifa World Ranking: 42
Main Stadium: Seoul World Cup Stadium, 64,677, (Seoul)
Last World Cup hosted: 2002 Odds: 20-1
Seoul World Cup Stadium staged the 2002 World Cup opening ceremony
South Korea, surprise late entrants for 2018, have been there and done it, co-hosting the World Cup with Japan in 2002. They built 10 new stadiums in the process, all of which can hold more than 40,000 people.
The Seoul World Cup Stadium hosted the opening ceremony and holds 64,677 while the Daegu World Cup Stadium, the country's biggest, can accommodate 68,014.
Despite the fact neither hold the required 80,000, there should be little problem building another stadium or expanding an existing ground.
Seoul also hosted the 1986 Asian Games, as well as the 1988 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and earned rave reviews for the hospitality and efficiency when hosting the 2002 World Cup.
Reporting by BBC Sport's Marc Vesty
newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7856716.stm
When Bobby Moore wiped his hands on his shorts before collecting the World Cup trophy from the Queen at Wembley, he provided one of the most iconic images in British sport.
That was more than 42 years ago, and England fans need no reminding that it was the last time their team lifted the World Cup or, indeed, any major tournament.
But it is not only the England team that suffered many a painful World Cup exit. The Football Association was also left with a bitter taste in its mouth after Germany won the right to stage the 2006 tournament ahead of England.
The FA is mounting a strong campaign to host the 2018 World Cup and recently put the finishing touches to its bid team.
Fifa has gone for a more "Olympic-style" bidding war for 2018, with its 24-man executive committee to make its decision in December 2010, when the world governing body will also choose the 2022 hosts.
Of the 18 World Cup tournaments held since 1930, 10 have been staged in Europe, six in Latin America and one each in the United States and Asia.
With South Africa and Brazil to host the 2010 and 2014 competitions respectively, Fifa has said no African countries can bid for the 2018 showpiece while South America must wait until 2026 for the chance to bid again.
Successful hosts must meet certain conditions if they are to win the right to stage the World Cup, providing at least 12 stadiums with minimum capacities of 40,000, with the final to be held in a stadium with a capacity of at least 80,000.
BBC Sport profiles the opposition England faces if it is to host the tournament again.
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England
Fifa World Ranking: 8
Main Stadium: Wembley, 90,000 (London)
Last World Cup hosted: 1966 Odds: 11-8
Wembley - the home of English football cost £757m to build
Originally installed as favourites, by the British bookies at least, it will be 52 years since Bobby Moore lifted the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley by the time 2018 comes around.
Bringing football home is part of the government's proposed "decade of sport", which includes the London 2012 Olympics, the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Prince William and former England captain David Beckham will be out on schmoozing duty for England as they try to win over the Fifa panel.
Stadium-wise, England, who staged the European Championships in 1996, should have a very strong case, with Wembley the potential venue for the 2018 World Cup final. Several clubs have expressed an interest in extending their stadiums to put themselves forward should England win the right to host the World Cup.
Bid chief executive Andy Anson said: "Our intentions have obviously been well known for some time but there's a real sense of significance and excitement in the fact that we're now acknowledged as an official bidding nation.
"We believe we have a very strong case to bring the tournament to England and the challenge now is to put together a compelling presentation to showcase to the world."
Back to top
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Indonesia
Fifa World Ranking: 144
Main Stadium: Bung Karno Stadium, 88,000 (Jakarta)
Last World Cup hosted: n/a Odds: 50-1
Indonesia's Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta holds 88,000
In a bidding war full of heavyweights, no-one can criticise Indonesia for not thinking big.
With a population of 235m, it does fulfil one of the major requirements for hosting the world's most-watched sports event: it has a stadium capable of holding at least 80,000 spectators for the opening match and final.
Jakarta boasts the government-owned Bung Karno Stadium, which has a capacity of 88,000 and staged the 2007 Asian Cup final, when Iraq beat Saudi Arabia 1-0.
Indonesia became the first Asian team to play at a World Cup at the 1938 tournament in France, appeared under the colonial name of the Dutch East Indies.
Finding a dozen 40,000-seater stadiums, sufficient policing and transport links within the country may prove a problem and would require some serious infrastructure planning.
Indonesia Football Association secretary general Nugraha Besoes said: "10 years are enough for us to build, renovate or expand our stadiums to meet the requirement. This seems like only a dream for us now, but we must dare to dream big."
Back to top
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Portugal and Spain
Fifa World Ranking: Portugal - 11, Spain - 1
Main Stadium: Portugal - Estadio da Luz, 62,000 (Benfica)
Spain - Santiago Bernabeu, 80,354 (Madrid)
Last World Cup hosted: Spain - 1982 Odds: 4-1
Benfica's Estadio da Luz (left) and Barcelona's Nou Camp
After Japan and South Korea teamed up to stage the 2002 World Cup, Spain and Portugal have followed suit to submit a joint bid to host the 2018 tournament.
But the issue of joint bids is still a big sticking point and Fifa president Sepp Blatter has sent out mixed messages over whether they will be considered.
Still, Portugal and Spain are likely to be strong contenders if joint bids considered. Spain hosted the World Cup in 1982 and the European Championship in 1964, while Portugal hosted the 2004 European Championship after beating a rival bid from their Iberian neighbours.
Spain's biggest stadiums are Barcelona's Nou Camp (98,772) and Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu (80,354), and seven other football grounds throughout the country exceed a 40,000 capacity, including the Estadio Olimpico de Sevilla, where the 2003 Uefa Cup final between Celtic and FC Porto was held.
Portugal built seven modern stadiums from scratch and renovated three others for Euro 2004 as well as upgrading the country's transport infrastructure.
Benfica's Estadio da Luz is the country's biggest venue, with a 62,000 capacity for international games, while Sporting Lisbon's Estádio José Alvalade and FC Porto's Estadio do Dragao each hold 52,000.
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Qatar
Fifa World Ranking: 86
Main Stadium: Qatar Khalifa International Stadium, 50,000 (Doha)
Last World Cup hosted: n/a Odds: 33-1
Qatar play international matches at the intimate Jassim Bin Hamad
Qatar is looking to become the first Arab country to host the World Cup finals after unsuccessful attempts in the past from Egypt, Morocco and a joint bid from Tunisia and Libya.
The oil and gas-rich state failed in its attempt to host the 2016 Olympics but successfully hosted the 2006 Asian Games. It will also host football's Asian Cup in 2011 and is already home to successful international tennis and golf events as well as an impressive MotoGP circuit.
The Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium is the home ground of club side Al-Saad and, despite the fact it only has a capacity of 18,000, it is where the national team play because of the intimidating atmosphere that it can generate.
The Qatar Khalifa International Stadium in Doha is an impressive "mini-Wembley", while there are also two 25,000-capacity grounds but far more would need to be built if the country was to hold the World Cup.
This might make Fifa less inclined to go for Qatar especially considering the country only has a population of just over 1.3m people.
But the idea of playing the tournament in the June desert heat, when temperatures regularly top 40C, will probably provide an insurmountable obstacle. The country is planning to build a first-ever underground football stadium, but it is only designed to hold 11,000.
That said, Qatar enjoys considerable influence in Asian football given that it is home to Asian Football Confederation chief Mohammed Bin Hammam, a close ally of Blatter.
Qatar FA general secretary Saud Al Mohannadi said: "We have the stadiums and we have experience hosting top sports events."
Back to top
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Japan
Fifa World Ranking: 34
Main Stadium: International Stadium, 72,000 (Yokohama)
Last World Cup hosted: 2002 Odds: 20-1
Brazil lifted the 2002 World Cup at Yokohama International Stadium
The fact that Japan co-hosted the World Cup seven years ago with South Korea makes it unlikely that the competition will return there so soon.
The country is also bidding for the 2016 Olympics, having staged the Games back in 1964, and has plans to build a new 120,000 capacity stadium as well as renovate the National Stadium in the capital, Tokyo.
At present, Japan's biggest venue, the International Stadium in Yokohama, falls 8,000 seats short of Fifa's requirement of 80,000 for the final.
Japanese Football Association president Motoaki Inukai said: "We will definitely need the success of the 2016 Tokyo Olympics bid. If they don't win it, it will be physically impossible for us to host the World Cup."
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Australia
Fifa World Ranking: 29
Main Stadium: Melbourne Cricket ground, 100,108 (Melbourne)
Last World Cup hosted: n/a Odds: 4-1
The colossal MCG took centre stage at the Commonwealth Games in 2006
Australia's government has pledged to put £20.36m into the bid over three years and already has a strong track record organising big sporting events, such as the 2000 Olympics, the 2003 Rugby World Cup and the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
The country has never held a football World Cup before which will work in its favour, but given both the 2010 and 2014 World Cups will take place in the southern hemisphere, the best hope may be for 2022.
Stadium-wise, Australia has some huge facilities, although most are based around the oval field used for Aussie Rules football or Cricket.
The giant Melbourne Cricket Ground would potentially stage the final as it can hold 100,108 spectators. The ANZ Stadium in Sydney was the venue for the Olympic track and field events in 2000 and holds 83,500, so it would be in contention for the opening game and final.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said: "Winning the right to host the 2018 Fifa World Cup is a Herculean task, but overcoming tough odds is what Australian football does best."
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Netherlands and Belgium
Fifa World Ranking: Belgium - 54, Netherlands - 3
Main Stadium: Belgium - King Baudouin Stadium, 50,122 (Brussels)
Netherlands - Feyenoord Stadium (de Kuip), 51,577 (Rotterdam)
Last World Cup hosted: n/a Odds: 14-1
Euro 2000 began in Brussels but France celebrated in Rotterdam
Belgium and the Netherlands successfully hosted the Euro 2000, but as far as stadiums go, there's a bit of work to do.
The King Baudouin Stadium (formerly known as Heysel) in north Brussels was used for the opening game of Euro 2000 but has a capacity of just 50,122.
The Feyenoord Stadium, which hosted the Euro 2000 final, holds 51,577, again short of Fifa's requirements, while Ajax's Amsterdam Arena can accommodate just 51,628.
As with the joint bid from Portugal and Spain, the chance of Belgium and the Netherlands winning the right to host the World Cup looks doubtful.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter said: "As long as we have single-country bids which provide all the necessary guarantees, we will reject co-hosting bids."
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Mexico
Fifa World Ranking: 26
Main Stadium: Aztec Stadium, 105,000 (Mexico City)
Last World Cup hosted: 1986 Odds: 16-1
Maradona's 'hand of God' at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, World Cup 1986
Mexico has already hosted the World Cup twice: in 1970, when the tournament was won by Brazil, and 1986, when a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina triumphed over West Germany.
Colombia should have staged the 1986 tournament but decided they could not afford to host it under the terms that Fifa demanded. Mexico was eventually chosen instead, beating bids from the US and Canada to become the first country to hold the tournament twice.
Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, which holds 105,000, hosted both the opening match and the final of the 1986 World Cup, as well the quarter-final between Argentina and England, which witnessed Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" goal.
Renovated in 1999, the Jalisco Stadium in Guardalajara holds 72,600 and hosted games during the previous World Cups.
High temperatures might prove a possible disadvantage when it comes to winning votes, but Mexico can boast a proven track record when it comes to staging the biggest football event in the world.
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Russia
Fifa World Ranking: 9
Main Stadium: Luzhniki Stadium, 78,360, (Moscow)
Last World Cup hosted: n/a Odds: 6-1
Man Utd beat Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium to win the Champions League
Russia looks like being a major contender to England, but the vast distances between stadia - there are nine time zones - and the problems Euro 2012 hosts Ukraine and Poland are experiencing may persuade Fifa members to opt for a safer bet.
It can offer plenty of top-class venues with Moscow alone containing eight stadiums, the biggest of which is the Luzhniki Stadium, which holds 78,360 and acts as home to Torpedo and Spartak Moscow.
The stadium also hosted the 1999 Uefa Cup final and last season's Uefa Champions League final.
Moscow hosted the 1980 Olympics and made a bid for the 2012 Games, losing out in the first round of voting to Britain.
Should Russia triumph in 2018, then England would be immediately ruled out of the running for 2022, given Europe would not be allowed to stage the tournament twice in a row.
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United States of America
Fifa World Ranking: 22
Main Stadium: Rose Bowl, 91,000, (Pasadena)
Last World Cup hosted: 1994 Odds: 20-1
The Rose Bowl hosted the World Cup final in 1994 and the Women's in 1999
The United States is still waiting for "soccer" to truly capture the nation's imagination, despite staging the World Cup in 1994, when over 3.58m people attended.
And the impact of David Beckham's time in Major League Soccer with LA Galaxy should not be underestimated, even if he does cut his time there short to stay with AC Milan, in terms of boosting the profile of the sport.
USA 94 was hailed as a huge success even though high temperatures during games and awkward kick-off times for European television audiences were definite minus points.
Massive television and marketing opportunities mean it will be a strong contender this time around as well, and the US Soccer Federation has also suggested the election of President Barack Obama could help persuade Fifa to award them either the 2018 or 2022 tournament.
Federation president Sunil Gulati said: "Given everything that President Obama has said, everything he stands for, everything he's talked about in terms of reaching out to the world, trying to bring the global game to the US and opening our borders up for a festival of 32 countries and hundreds of thousands of people from all corners of the world would be viewed in a very positive way."
The US says it has 25-35 stadiums that would be capable of hosting matches.
The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, which hosted Brazil's victory over Italy in the 1994 final, has not been refurbished but holds 91,000.
Back to top
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South Korea
Fifa World Ranking: 42
Main Stadium: Seoul World Cup Stadium, 64,677, (Seoul)
Last World Cup hosted: 2002 Odds: 20-1
Seoul World Cup Stadium staged the 2002 World Cup opening ceremony
South Korea, surprise late entrants for 2018, have been there and done it, co-hosting the World Cup with Japan in 2002. They built 10 new stadiums in the process, all of which can hold more than 40,000 people.
The Seoul World Cup Stadium hosted the opening ceremony and holds 64,677 while the Daegu World Cup Stadium, the country's biggest, can accommodate 68,014.
Despite the fact neither hold the required 80,000, there should be little problem building another stadium or expanding an existing ground.
Seoul also hosted the 1986 Asian Games, as well as the 1988 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and earned rave reviews for the hospitality and efficiency when hosting the 2002 World Cup.
Reporting by BBC Sport's Marc Vesty
newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7856716.stm
