Moscow  - Russia Friday unveiled its bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, proposing 14 venues in five regions.

"This is an important initiative, not just for football but for the whole nation," Sports Minister Vitaly Mutlo said at the launch at Moscow's GUM department store.

Russia is hosting the 2014 winter Olympics in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, one of the venues also proposed for the World Cup.

World governing body FIFA's executive committee will decide on the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in December 2010.

Other candidates are England, the United States, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Indonesia, Spain/Portugal and Netherlands/Belgium.

South Korea and Qatar have lodged bids for 2022 only, while Mexico has now withdrawn its bid.

Candidates have until May 14, 2010 to register their bid documents with FIFA. (dpa)