Coach Vicente del Bosque supports a possible joint bid between Spain and Portugal to host the 2018 World Cup.

Spain have already made known their interest in staging the competition, with the country's football federation president Angel Maria Villar announcing following his re-election last month that his priority was to present an "invincible bid" for the tournament.

Villar was reluctant to comment at the time on suggestions of a unified bid with Portugal, but it now seems the RFEF chief feels their Iberian neighbours should be bedfellows in any bid.

Whilst outlining his hopes for next year, Villar was quoted as saying in Marca: "First, we must qualify for the final phase of the 2010 World Cup, try to win the Confederations Cup and then present a strong, consistent and winning candidature for the 2018 World Cup. Personally I believe it must be with Portugal.

"We also need a willing government for this, because neither a federation nor a government can achieve this alone."

Del Bosque, who took over as Spain coach earlier this year as a replacement for Euro 2008-winning tactician Luis Aragones, is all for a joint bid.

He said: "A World Cup would be a great step for the unity of Spanish football. Portugal is a country which is closely related to us, and if the president says so, it will be a positive thing to work hand in hand with them."

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The Spanish FA confirmed following today's board meeting that they intend to launch a joint bid.

An RFEF statement said: "The board have finalised today the formal presentation of the candidacy for Spain to organise the 2018 World Cup in conjunction with Portugal."

FIFA are scheduled to announce which bids are successful for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in December 2010.

According to FIFA president Sepp Blatter, other countries interested in staging the World Cup include Japan, China, Qatar, Mexico, the USA, Russia, Australia, Canada and England.