European nations Belgium and the Netherlands have made a combined bid to host the 2018 World Cup. "Representatives of the football federations of Belgium and the Netherlands decided Wednesday in Breda (in the south of the Netherlands) to create a foundation with the aim of securing the rights to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup," it said in a statement on Wednesday.

The duo that hosted the 2000 European Championship will go up against Australia's bid with the decision to be made in 2011.

Other nations that have so far confirmed bids include England, Portugal/Spain, Qatar and Russia.