Portugal intends to submit a bid to host the 2007 Confederations Cup, the president of the nation's football federation revealed.

"We will today submit a request to FIFA that a Portuguese bid to host the next edition of the Confederation Cup be considered," Gilberto Madail told a news conference.

"Germany will host the cup in 2005, so we are talking about the cup in 2007," he added Friday.

Portugal, one of the poorest nations in the 15-member European Union , has spent some 800 million euros (one billion dollars) to build seven new stadia, and completely renovate three others, in order to host the Euro 2004 football finals between June 12 and July 4.

The 10 stadiums will have a combined capacity of 380,000 people, or almost four percent of Portugal's population.

Euro 2004, the largest sporting event ever held in Portugal, is expected to draw up to three million people to the country.

"We plan on being in the 'pull position' from now on in terms of making bids to host international football events in order to help make the stadiums profitable," Madail added.

Portugal intends to submit a bid to host the 2007 Confederations Cup, the president of the nation's football federation revealed.

Source: AFP