Libya and Tunisia have launched a joint bid to co-host football's 2010 World Cup. FIFA, the sport's world governing body, has already decided football's premier event will be staged in Africa for the first time.
Libya and Tunisia had initially submitted separate bids along with Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco and favorites South Africa. The bidders must present final bid documents to FIFA before the end of this month.
Saadi Gaddafi, son of Libyan leader Mummar Gaddafi and vice president of his country's football body, told a news conference that talks were held with Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali before announcing the bid. A deal was reached to submit the joint bid.
The 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan was the first time a World Cup had ever been co-hosted by two countries. Saadi said in his discussions with FIFA president Sepp Blatter that FIFA did not favor another joint bid because of problems experienced before last year's event. Blatter had rejected an earlier plan by Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Benin and Togo to co-host the tournament.