A total of 11 cities in Belgium and Netherlands have said they could host the matches, the KNVB (Dutch Football Association) said in a statement.

 

In Belgium they are Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Charleroi, Genk and Liege.

 

In Holland, Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Enschede, Heerenveen and Rotterdam [two stadiums] are the cities/stadiums.

 

All the cities and stadiums meet FIFA conditions.

 

There must be, for instance, three stadiums with a minimum capacity of 60,000 and the other stadiums need to be able to host at least 44,000 spectators.

 

The chairmen of the respective FAs, Francois De Keersmaecker of the KBVB (Belgium Football Association) and Michael van Praag of the KNVB, will act as co-chairman for the new committee.

 

The decision comes 12 months after the Dutch and Belgian Governments formally told world football's governing body FIFA they wanted to host the tournament.

 

The two countries also jointly hosted Euro 2000.

 

Besides England, several nations, including the United States, Mexico, Qatar, Spain, China and Australia, have also expressed interest in hosting the 2018 finals.

 

South Africa will host the 2010 edition while Brazil will stage the tournament in 2014.