Nine bids for hosting 2018 World Cup
World football’s governing body, FIFA, has announced that nine bids have been submitted for hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The nine bids come from :-
England
Russia
Australia
USA
Japan
Mexico
Indonesia
Spain-Portugal
Belgium-Netherlands
No nations were allowed to bid from Africa or South America according to FIFA’s rotation policy. South Africa will host the 2010 World Cup, with Brazil hosting it in 2014.
FIFA’s committee will choose the winner in December 2010.
England, USA, Spain and Mexico are the only nations to have hosted the World Cup before. England did in 1966, while Mexico hosted it twice- 1970 and 1986. The USA hosted it in 1994. Spain hosted it in 1982.
Successful hosts must have at least 12 stadiums with a capacity of over 40,000. The final must be played in a stadium with a minimum capacity of 80,000
Benfica 2-1 Leixoes
Game : Benfica vs Leixoes
Competition : Portuguese Liga
Final score : Benfica 2-1 Leixoes ( Elvis OG 16′, Nuno Gomes 67′/ Rodrigo Silva 74′)
In Friday’s only Portuguese Liga game, 10 man Benfica beat Leixoes to reduce FC Porto’s lead at the top of the league to one point.
An Elvis own goal gave Benfica the lead in the 16th minute. The Leixoes player put Jose Antonio Reyes’ cross past his own keeper to put Benfica 1-0 up. Striker Nuno Gomes, a second half substitute for Reyes, doubled Benfica’s lead when he sent the ball in at the far post from Cardozo’s cross.
Carlos Martins, himself a first half substitute for Ruben Amorim, was forced off the field after a challenge with Hugo Morais. It reduced Benfica to 10 men as they had used up all their substitutions, and Leixoes immediately took advantage as Silva pulled one back for them in the 74th minute.
Leixoes, who would have gone above Benfica had they won, applied tremendous pressure in the final minutes, but Benfica held on to win 2-1.
Leaders Porto take on Sporting Lisbon on Saturday.