Countdown to 2006

December 1998 – Deadline for countries to register interest in bidding for the 2006 World Cup to Fifa.

September 1999 – Bid documents from competing countries must be submitted to Fifa. Bids from any country in Asia will not be accepted because the 2002 finals will be jointly held between Japan and South Korea, and no continent can host the games twice in succession.

October 1999 to 2000 – Fifa representatives travel to the competing countries to check that they meet the requirements in the document, and have the finances to deliver on any capital projects, like new stadia, promised.

Spring 2000 – Fifa’s own report on each country is submitted to the Executive Committee

June 2000 – The 24 members of the Executive Committee meet in the Zurich headquarters of Fifa and decide who will host the 2006 World Cup.