Eleven bids for 2018, 2022 World Cups

There are a total of 11 announced bids, including combined bids, for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, FIFA said Tuesday after the deadline for candidates expired on Monday.

England, Australia, joint bids from Belgium/Netherlands and Spain/Portugal, also the USA, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico and Russia have applied for both tournaments while South Korea and Qatar have targeted solely 2022.

“We are very satisfied with the enormous enthusiasm which our top competition has engendered and to see that all the countries who initially declared their interest have officially confirmed their bids,” said FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Countries were asked by world football’s governing body to bid for one of the two tournaments or submit proposals to stage both events.