FIFA opens bidding for 2018 and 2022 World Cups

World football’s governing body FIFA has kicked off the simultaneous bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

FIFA sent out a letter to national associations on Thursday inviting them to express their interest in hosting one of the events by February 2.

The host nations are due to be appointed by FIFA’s executive committee in December 2010, about six months after they are meant to have submitted detailed bids.

South American countries are excluded from both hosting both events, since Brazil is due to host the World Cup in 2014, while African nations are excluded from the running for 2018 following the World Cup in South Africa next year.

Japan has already signalled its interest for 2018 or 2022.

The governing body opened up the bidding to all of its largely continental confederations in 2007, ending the practice in recent years of rotating the event among them.

However, in the letter, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke cautioned that if a country from a particular confederation hosted the event in 2018, other countries in that region would be out of the running for the following one.

Host nations must be able to provide about 12 stadiums with at least 40,000 seats and 80,000 seats for the opening match and the final, as well as highly developed communications, transport and accommodation facilities.