Egypt seeks Turkish support for 2010 World Cup bid

"I asked (Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul) for Turkey to give support regarding Egypt’s request to host the World Cup in 2010," Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said.

Maher said Gul "promised to assess this proposal."

The two ministers met in this resort on the sidelines of a two-day Mediterranean foreign ministers’ meeting.

"Egypt hopes to get the support of many countries and hopes to receive the world teams in these popular games, which improve relations between nations," Maher said. "Through sports we can do many things which we cannot through politics."
Egypt fielded teams in the 1934 and 1990 World Cups. Turkey came third in last year’s World Cup.