Former Chelsea player and Dutch international Ruud Gullit has backed the 2018 Holland and Belgium joint World Cup bid.

Gullit, who is one of the ambassadors for the campaign, stated that the two countries had a decent track record in hosting major sporting events after staging the Euro 2000 championships.

He said: “If they (Holland) were to be awarded the right to host the World Cup it would not be a risk because they have done it in the past. The two countries are the best among 10 bidding to host the world’s biggest football event. The two countries are easily accessible without having to fly from one stadium to another. Football fans can cycle from stadium to stadium. They speak so many languages among them that many visiting countries will not feel left out.”

Belgian former great Jean-Marie Pfaff also said the two countries deserved to host the World Cup for their rich football background.

He said: “The countries have produced a number of good football players among them and it would be an honour to award them the chance to co-host. We’re confident in their chances but are also respecting the other hosting countries, who have a decent chance of winning.”