Qatar Joins Race For 2018 World Cup
Qatar has become the latest nation to officially announce its intention to bid to host the football World Cup in 2018.
The Middle East nation also revealed that should its bid to host the World Cup in 2018 fail, it will also bid for the 2022 edition of football’s global showpiece event.
World football governing body FIFA, which is undergoing the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups simultaneously, has already received official statements of intent to bid for the tournaments from a number of countries as the 2nd February deadline for expressions of interest looms.
Among other countries who have officially bid are England, Russia, Spain and Portugal in a joint bid, and Belgium and the Netherlands, also in a joint bid.
Other interested countries, according to FIFA, are Japan, China, Mexico, the United States, Australia and Canada.
FIFA will name the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in December 2010.
Gas-rich Qatar failed in its bid to host the 2016 Olympics but successfully hosted the 2006 Asian Games and will host the 2011 Asian Cup football tournament.
