Zurich - FIFA has kicked off the two-year-long simultaneous bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

A circular letter was sent out by football's governing body to national associations on Thursday inviting them to express their interest to submit a bid for either or both tournaments.

There are 145 associations eligible to bid for the 2018 event and 198 for 2022. South American countries are excluded from hosting both events as Brazil is due to host the World Cup in 2014, while African nations are prevented from the running for 2018 as South Africa is hosting the 2010 tournament.

Zurich- The Arab world will soon have its own language channel on the website of the ruling body FIFA, it was announced on Wednesday.

The Arabic channel joins English, Spanish, French and German versions of the popular site and is to reach out to an audience of around 350 million Arab speakers.

The new channel will be launched shortly ahead of the June 14-28 Confederations Cup in South Africa, FIFA said in a statement. It will be presented ART (Arab Radio & Television), one of FIFA's long-term broadcast partners.

Zurich - European champions Spain remain top of the virtually unchanged football rankings

Lisbon/Zurich - Even the Prime Minster was moved as Portugal on Tuesday celebrated Cristiano Ronaldo's 2008 World Footballer honour.

Monday's announcement by the ruling body FIFA at a gala in Zurich delighted his home nation and England as well as the Manchester United winger Ronaldo is the first Premier League-based player to win the prestigious award.

Portuguese broadcasters devoted hours of live-coverage to the 23-year-old Ronaldo who is the nation's second World Footballer, following Luis Figo in 2001.

Zurich - It was a dream come true Monday for Manchester United's Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo as he was named the FIFA World Footballer of the Year 
2008.

The 23-year-old, who last month won the European Footballer of the Year award, made history by becoming the first player from the Premier League to win the top individual award in world football.

Zurich - It was a dream come true Monday for Manchester United's Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo as he was named the FIFA World Footballer of the Year 
2008.

The 23-year-old, who last month won the European Footballer of the Year award, made history by becoming the first player from the Premier League to win the top individual award in world football.