The IWAS Powerchair Hockey Sport Executive Committee has described both bids as "extremely promising" following preliminary evaluations.

Site visits are due to be conducted in the potential host cities in the coming months, exploring the venues and team accommodation where the focus will be on the viability and suitability of the proposed facilities.

"The Sport Executive Committee look forward to meeting with the Local Organising Committees of both nations to gain a better understanding of their visions for the World Championships 2018," a statement on IWAS’s website reads.

Italy finished runners-up to hosts The Netherlands at last year’s IWAS Powerchair Hockey European Championships in De Rijp.

Under its former name, electric wheelchair hockey, powerchair hockey was one of nine new sports or disciplines to apply for inclusion at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, only to fail to make it through to the final stage.

It was eliminated along with powerchair football, 3x3 intellectually impaired basketball, amputee football, one person multi-hull sailing, blind match racing sailing and 3x3 wheelchair basketball.

Only badminton and taekwondo were ultimately approved by the International Paralympic Committee Governing Board.