Holland and Belgium have formally indicated their intention to bid to co-host the 2018 World Cup. Nominations do not have to be declared until 2009 but the two neighbouring countries met with Fifa president Sepp Blatter in Zurich to indicate they would bid.

Dutch Football Federation (KNVB) president Jeu Sprengers and his Belgian counterpart Francois de Keersmaecker both met Blatter and outlined the bid from the two nations who co-hosted Euro 2000.

In remarks on the Belgian Federation (URBSFA) website, www.footbel.com, Sprengers said: "According to Mr Blatter we were the first to come and personally announce our intention to organise the 2018 World Cup.

"We must work as one organisation and not as two separate entities. That won't be a problem because it's the way we worked for Euro 2000."