FIFA evaluates Belgian, Dutch World Cup bid
Published:Tuesday | August 10, 2010 | 9:52 AM
A FIFA inspection team has kicked off a four-day visit to Belgium and the Netherlands to evaluate their joint bid to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022.
The five-member delegation met yesterday with Belgian sports and government officials in Brussels. They will visit Antwerp today and then head to the Netherlands.
The delegation has already toured Japan, South Korea and Australia, which are bidding for the 2022 tournament along with Qatar.
The United States, Russia, England and a joint bid from Spain and Portugal are also competing for both tournaments and will be visited later by the inspection team.
However, the bid has faced domestic criticism this month, with politicians and media questioning whether FIFA should be granted tax-free status during the World Cup and be allowed to impose marketing restrictions around stadiums.