Netherlands And Belgium Ready For A Joint Venture To Win FIFA World Cup for 2018 or 2022

The joint bid of Netherlands and Belgium to co-host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup Finals kicked off on Monday at PSV stadium in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

The organizers announced plans for 12 new stadiums and strong corporate backing at a press conference.

"Competition is fierce," said bid executive Harry Been. "We have to be an attractive alternative."

Dutch soccer greats Johan Cruyff and Ruud Gullit, swimmer Pieter van den Hoogenband and Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx were introduced as the bid's main ambassadors.

Soccer's world governing body FIFA is due to announce the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in December 2010.

Netherlands and Belgium, which co-hosted the 2000 European Championship, will compete with Australia, England, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Qatar, Russia, Spain and Portugal, and the United States.

The next World Cup is due to be held in South Africa in 2010 while Brazil will host the 2014 tournament.