Cruyff unsure over Belgo-Dutch World Cup bid

Johann Cruyff has delayed a decision on whether to become an ambassador for Belgium and the Netherlands’ joint bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

“I will not become an ambassador unless I feel that the bid is widely supported and everyone gets behind it,” the 62-year-old Dutch great wrote in Dutch daily De Telegraaf on Monday.

“I don’t yet feel this is the case, so I will give advice but not in the guise of an official representative.”

The former Ajax and Barcelona star was expected to join fellow Oranje hero Ruud Gullit, Belgian tennis player Justine Henin and French footballer Christian Karembeu as ambassadors for the cross-border bid to host the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022.

His hesitation is a big blow for the football federations of Belgium and the Netherlands.

The Dutch federation reacted quickly saying there “is no misunderstanding with Cruyff” and “thanking him for his involvement”.

The executive committee of world football’s governing body FIFA will announce the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups at the end of 2010.

England, Australia, the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Russia and a joint bid from Spain and Portugal are the other candidates for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, while South Korea and Qatar have bid for the 2022 edition.

The 2010 World Cup will take place in South Africa, with five-time world champions Brazil hosting the tournament four years later.