Fifa invited its member associates to engage in a simultaneous bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 Fifa World Cups, by letter on 15 January 2009, signed by Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke.
The letter outlined the basic requirements for a host country; approximately 12 stadiums with minimum capacities of between 40,000 for group matches and 80,000 for the opening match and final. The "highest standards of TV broadcasting, information and telecommunications technology, transport and accommodation" were also described as a must.
Members were informed that the Fifa Confederations Cup will be hosted the year before each Fifa World Cup, not only as a major competition in its own right, but as a test of the infrastructure of the host country ahead of staging the World Cup the following year.
Member associates of CAF and Conmebol were ineligible to bid to host the 2018 World Cup, while Conmebol could also not bid for the 2022 edition. This was due to South Africa hosting the 2010 World Cup, and Brazil hosting the 2014 event. In line with article 75 of the Fifa Statutes, it was also confirmed that member associations from the same confederation will not be appointed to host consecutive editions of the World Cup.
Full details of the requirements to stage a World Cup were distributed as part of the bid documents sent to potential bidding nations who completed the Expression of Interest form.
Once all the bids have successfully submitted their full bid books to Fifa by the May 14 deadline, the committees will be invited to South Africa to take part in the FIFA Bidders Expo in Johannesburg, during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. After the completion of the 2010 World Cup, FIFA will begin individual inspections of each country's bid.
On December 2, the members of the FIFA Executive Committee will take part in vote to decide the host destination of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, with the bid receiving the lowest number of votes eliminated in each round.
FIFA will announce the appointments for both tournaments on the same day, bringing an end to the busiest bidding process in the tournament's history.