FIFA assesses Spain-Portugal World Cup bid

Aug 30, 2010 - 7:34 PM MADRID (AP) -- A FIFA delegation began its trip to assess Spain and Portugal's joint bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup on Monday, saying the countries got off to a good start by presenting all the required documents on time.

Delegation leader Harold Mayne-Nicholls said the seventh and final inspection tour in Europe would last four days. Only the United States and Qatar remain to be visited.

Spain's Interior Ministry said in a statement Monday that it was due to present security plans for the joint proposal to the evaluation committee from soccer's world governing body.

Miguel Angel Lopez, the bid's CEO, said Madrid and Barcelona would be visited in Spain, and Porto and Lisbon in Portugal. He said the joint bid was strong because it included seven elite category stadiums.