Japan had sent a letter to world soccer governing body FIFA to bid for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, Japan Football Association president Motoaki Inukai said Thursday.

FIFA will choose the hosts of 2018 and 2022 World Cups in December 2010.

So far, Australia, China, England, Indonesia, Mexico, Qatar and Russia are also among countries to express interest in bidding for the World Cup. Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as Portugal and Spain, are considering joint bids.

FIFA requires a World Cup host to have about 12 stadiums with more than 40,000 seats, one of them with more than 80,000 seats.

Japan co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with South Korea.

(Xinhua News Agency January 30, 2009)