Spain want to host 2018 World Cup
Buoyed by their win in the World Cup this summer, Spain are set to push for co-hosting the 2018 tournament with neighbouring Portugal, secretary of state for sports, Jaime Lissavetsky, said on Tuesday.
"Spain's next challenge is to organise the 2018 World Cup," Lissavetsky said in an address to the Spanish Football Federation's (RFEF) general assembly meeting.
Spain and Portugal hope to pool their resources -- as Japan and South Korea did in 2002 -- for 2018, after Brazil hosts the next edition in 2014.
Belgium and the Netherlands are also preparing a joint 2018 bid and other candidates are England, the United States, Russia and Australia.
Fifa is to elect the winning bid on December 2 at a meeting of its executive committee.
RFEF chairman, Angel Maria Villar, said that "Spain and Portugal are in the race" for 2018, but admitted that it will likely prove difficult to see off the opposition -- Spain hosted the event as recently as 1982. He stressed that in the event of failure, there will be a renewed bid for 2022.
Fifa's inspection commitee started looking at the
bidders' dossiers Monday, starting off with Japan, a candidate for 2022.
