Spain and Portugal have formally agreed to submit a joint bid to rival Australia's for the 2018 World Cup.
The combined bid has been mooted for more than a year and was finally confirmed two weeks ago.
Portugal's football federation president Gilberto Madail and his Spanish counterpart Angel Maria Villar Llona signed an official agreement in Lisbon today.
FIFA have issued a deadline of February 2 for letters of interest to be submitted.
Madail told Portuguese news agency Lusa: "This is an important day, the day we decide to go ahead and present a bid to FIFA."
Spain and Portugal will be tough rivals for England as they can expect full support from the three South American representatives on FIFA's 24-man executive committee who will make the decision in December 2011.
Other countries bidding include another joint bid from Belgium/Holland. Russia, China, Qatar, the United States and Japan may also enter the contest for 2018 or 2022.
FIFA's executive committee announced last month there would be a simultaneous bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
Madail is confident Portugal and Spain would stage a fine competition if their bid was successful.
"If Portugal and Spain did not believe we could host the event, certainly we would not have presented this bid," Madail said.
"We will be waiting until March to be notified by FIFA with all requirements.
"After that we will introduce (the project) to our governments.
"There will be many advantages, socially and economically for both us and Spain."
Any country interested in hosting the tournament must make their intention known by February 2 and formalise their candidature by May 14.
"This final dossier will be handed to FIFA. If successful we will form a World Cup committee," the FPF boss explained.
Portugal's football federation president Gilberto Madail and his Spanish counterpart Angel Maria Villar Llona signed an official agreement in Lisbon today.
FIFA have issued a deadline of February 2 for letters of interest to be submitted.
Madail told Portuguese news agency Lusa: "This is an important day, the day we decide to go ahead and present a bid to FIFA."
Spain and Portugal will be tough rivals for England as they can expect full support from the three South American representatives on FIFA's 24-man executive committee who will make the decision in December 2011.
Other countries bidding include another joint bid from Belgium/Holland. Russia, China, Qatar, the United States and Japan may also enter the contest for 2018 or 2022.
FIFA's executive committee announced last month there would be a simultaneous bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
Madail is confident Portugal and Spain would stage a fine competition if their bid was successful.
"If Portugal and Spain did not believe we could host the event, certainly we would not have presented this bid," Madail said.
"We will be waiting until March to be notified by FIFA with all requirements.
"After that we will introduce (the project) to our governments.
"There will be many advantages, socially and economically for both us and Spain."
Any country interested in hosting the tournament must make their intention known by February 2 and formalise their candidature by May 14.
"This final dossier will be handed to FIFA. If successful we will form a World Cup committee," the FPF boss explained.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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