The world governing body yesterday confirmed they had received a total of 11 formal expressions of interest to bid for one or both of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments by Monday's deadline - with Egypt not among the contenders.

A FIFA spokesman told PA Sport: "As far as Egypt goes, an expression of interest was put in, but then withdrawn.

"We received 11 expressions of interest - two of which are conjoined."

The candidates are Australia, Belgium/Holland, England, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Qatar, Russia, South Korea, Spain/Portugal, and the United States.

The Egyptian Football Association say they decided against expressing a formal interest after learning they would only be allowed to apply to host the 2022 event due to FIFA's rotation system between different continents.

"Following what was published on the FIFA website which indicates that the Egyptian Football Association might apply to host the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Egyptian FA would like to clarify that we have previously received a fax from FIFA which inquires about the possibility of taking part in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups bids," read an EFA statement.

"The Egyptian FA asked FIFA to provide all the necessary requirements in order to study them and take a clear decision, but FIFA's reply limited the bid to the 2022 World Cup and therefore the Egyptian FA withdrew interest in applying."

Bidding for both 2018 and 2022 will be a simultaneous process with both winners announced in December 2010.