FIFA evaluates Belgian-Dutch World Cup bid

Aug 9, 2010 - 5:13 PM By ROBERT WIELAARD Associated Press Writer

BRUSSELS(AP) -- FIFA began a four-day visit Monday to Belgium and the Netherlands, with Belgian tennis star Justine Henin supporting the joint bid to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022.

The five-member inspection team met Monday with Belgian sports and government officials in Brussels. They will visit Antwerp on Tuesday and then head to the Netherlands.

The group is led by Chilean soccer federation president Harold Mayne-Nicholls. It already has toured three other countries bidding for the World Cup - Japan, South Korea and Australia.

The United States, Russia, Britain and Qatar are the others in the running, along with a joint bid by Spain and Portugal. They will be visited later by inspectors.

In Belgium, Henin met with the FIFA delegation to promote the bid, along with former Belgian soccer stars Jean-Marie Pfaff and Paul van Himst.

Netherlands and Belgium co-hosted the 2000 European Championship, and Henin said the countries "have a lot of experience now."

The bid drew domestic criticism this month, with politicians and media questioning whether soccer's governing body should be granted tax-free status during the World Cup and be allowed to impose marketing restrictions around stadiums.