Japan's cabinet has endorsed the country's bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 football World Cup.
The government doesn't plan to fund any infrastructure costs but pledged to cooperate with security, transportation and immigration issues if Japan was successful in winning the right to host the tournament.
The Japan Football Association plans to lodge a formal bid with the sport's world governing body FIFA later this week.
The vote on where the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be held is to be made in December next year.
Japan co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with South Korea but the two countries plan to lodge sole bids this time.
