Following the shock victory of Germany to host the 2006 event - beating favourite South Africa - FIFA implemented a rotation system into the way World Cups were awarded.
First proposed in 2000 by the Executive Committee and ratified by the FIFA Congress in July last year, the rotation will begin in Africa.
Earlier this week FIFA wrote to the African national associations only, inviting them to submit their bids to host the tournament.
The African associations have until December 31 to declare their interest in hosting the event. These associations will then receive the updated 'list of requirements' by January 31, 2003 and be asked to formally confirm or withdraw their declaration of interest by April 30, 2003 at the latest.
National associations confirming their bid will then have until August 31, 2003 to present their bid documents to FIFA. In the months that follow, FIFA will inspect each prospective host country and draft a report to be presented to the Executive Committee in April 2004, a whole month before the designation of the host national association for the 2010 World Cup.
