Spain and Portugal are angling to jointly host the 2018 World Cup, boasting the warmest climate, Real Madrid's 80,000-person stadium, Lisbon's 65,000-person Luz Stadium, and plenty of air routes, hotels, and other accommodations. They also say that their facilities have state-of-the-art amenities and security.
The two are proven soccer powerhouses.
Spain was the 2010 World Cup champion and has appeared in the Cup 13 times. Portugal has made five showings at the World Cup, reaching third place in 1966.
A possible stumbling block to this bid is the logistics involved in hosting the event over two countries. And with the economic downturn, there are questions about whether a high-speed rail link can be put in place in time for the event.
