Spain hosted the World Cup in 1982. Portugal hosted the 2004 European Championship.
FIFA has announced the timetable for the bid process to determine the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, beginning with the deadline of Feb. 2 for a national association to express its intent to bid. It has been expected U.S. Soccer would wait until after Tuesday's inauguration of Barack Obama to announce its intention to host.
The 2018/2022 bid process is unique in that two World Cup hosts will be selected at the same time. Their selection by FIFA's executive committee with take place in December 2010.
FIFA set out the minimum requirements to host: about 12 stadiums holding at least 40,000 fans for group matches, with one stadium of at least a capacity of 80,000 to stage the opening match and the final.
Other European countries bidding include England, Russia and Belgium-Netherlands-Luxembourg and Spain-Portugal. Potential U.S. competition from non-European countries are Australia, Qatar, China, Japan, Mexico and Canada.