Iberian World Cup bid to receive positive report

The joint Spanish-Portuguese bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup is to receive a "very positive" report from the FIFA delegation following this week's visit to the Iberian countries, inspection team leader Harold Mayne-Nicholls said.

Speaking in Lisbon today after the delegation's four-day visit to Madrid, Barcelona and Porto, Mayne-Nicholls, the Chilean national federation president, was quoted as saying by Marca: "The Iberian candidature has many possibilities of being chosen to organise the 2018/2022 World Cup, and our report is going to be very positive.

"We've observed that they have a great sporting, hotel and transport infrastructure, and have the unwavering support of the political and sporting authorities."

The final decision on where the tournaments will be staged will be made by the FIFA executive committee in Zurich on December 2.