For which year are you asking abut.
I think four countries can bid for a world cup.
There were six countries that placed bids to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Four of these countries placed joint-bids:Belgium and the Netherlands (joint-bid)EnglandRussiaSpain and Portugal (joint-bid)
Countries bidding to host 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup:Egypt (bid inquiry; withdrew without officially placing a bid)Mexico (withdrew bid on September 28, 2009)Belgium and the Netherlands (joint bid)EnglandRussiaSpain and Portugal (joint bid)United StatesCountries bidding to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup only:Indonesia (bid rejected on March 19, 2010)South KoreaQatarAustraliaJapan
Columbia did bid for the 2014 World Cup
FIFA decided that the 2014 cup should be in South America, and only two countries (Brazil and Columbia) decided to formally bid. Then Columbia withdrew their bid, so Brazil won by default.
England lost the 2018 world cup bid, because the B.b.C brought out the corruption in F.I.F.A.And the two men were expelled.
The U.S.A may get the world cup in 2022 as they withdrew from 2018 bid and left it for England.
The f.i.f.a vted for Russia.
It has not yet been decided.
South Africa put in a bid to host the World Cup and FIFA chose them.
There will be 32 countries in the world cup 2010.
The winning country gets an automatic bid to the next world cup.