FEBRUARY 2 - A RECORD 12 countries have now put themselves forward to stage the 2018 or 2022 World Cup Egypt and South Korea made unexpected late entries.

The world governing body FIFA said Egypt became the first African country to put their name forward in a race that includes five potential bidders from Asia, four from Europe and two from the Americas.
 
South Korea will be up against Asian rivals Japan, the country they co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with, Indonesia, Qatar and Australia.
 
England and Russia are among the European contenders along with joint bids from Belgium-Netherlands and Portugal-Spain.
 
But Sepp Blatter, the President of FIFA, said last week that with so many bids it is unlikely that they would choose one from two countries who wanted to co-hosted because of the problems when Japan and South Korea did it.
 
Mexico, who staged the tournament in 1970 and 1986, and 1994 World Cup hosts the United States are the other names on the list which is due to be finalised by FIFA tomorrow, the deadline for countries to express their interest.