Spain may bid for 2018 World Cup

Spain may compete with England to stage the 2018 World Cup, Spanish media said Thursday, a day after a meeting of the country's football federation.

The head of the federation, Angel Maria Villar, suggested Spain's candidature during the meeting, and was backed by Secretary of State for Sport Jaime Lissavetzky as well as the president of Barcelona football club, Joan Laporta.

The next World Cups are to take place in South Africa in 2010 and in Brazil in 2014.

Only England has so far announced its candidature for 2018. But Belgium and The Netherlands have shown interest in a joint bid, and Russia, Australia and the United States have also been mentioned.

World football's governing body, FIFA, is to announce its choice in 2011.

FIFA President Joseph Blatter in April urged Spain to present its candidature, possibly in a joint bid with Portugal.

Portugal has said it is interested, and the head of the country's football federation, Gilberto Madail, said in May he would raise the issue with Spanish authorities.

A joint Spanish-Portuguese bid was not mentioned during Wednesday's meeting in Madrid.

Spain, which won the Euro 2008 tournament this month, staged the World Cup in 1982.