FIFA 'abandon World Cup rotation'

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has confirmed a decision to take the 2018 World Cup off the rotation system was likely to be agreed at a meeting today.

England are likely to face a number of other strong challengers however including Russia, China, Australia and USA or Mexico, and possibly a Benelux joint bid from Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg.

Under the current rotation system, the World Cup went to Africa for 2010 (South Africa won the contest), South America for 2014 and if rotation continued would go to a country from north and central America or the Caribbean in 2018.

However FIFA president Sepp Blatter was concerned that only one country - Brazil – bid for 2014 and said last week that he favoured a change.

Blatter told Sky News: “I do hope so that on Monday evening we have made the decision that for the 2018 World Cup the market will be an open market with the exception naturally of that continent that will organise it in 2014 in South America.

“And therefore, and it is what I have said during the week also at 10 Downing Street, if this will happen then England can have a bid and, I would say, it would be a strong bid.”

Blatter insists he has no preference on where the tournament should be staged but would be happy for it to go to England.

He added: “No, I’m supporting all the bidders, but the England bid is, I have to say, a very pleasant bid because it is not today they have said they start to be interested in the World Cup 2018, it’s several years ago, especially when they lost against Germany [for 2006].

“England is the motherland of football, they have the best professional league. But I doubt if they have the best national team and this is also something very important to organise a World Cup.”

Blatter believes a limit on the number of foreign players playing in the domestic game would help countries such as England improve their national teams.

The Swiss proposes that teams should have to play at least six nationals in matches, although this could be difficult, legally, to enforce in Europe.

He said: “If you have teams playing in the league like in England and there are no English players on the field of play, then something is wrong.

“Six players they are eligible for the national team.”

When asked how Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, noted for fielding multi-national sides, would react, Blatter said: “One day you’ll say we don’t want a national team, then OK you’ll follow Arsene Wenger.”

Blatter says the matter will be discussed at the next FIFA congress meeting in Australia next May.

As for the 2018 World Cup, Blatter, 71, added that he might even still like to be in office to oversee it.

He said: “I would like to see the World Cup to be played in England as long as I’m still alive and perhaps still president of FIFA.

“I don’t know if I’m President of FIFA in 2018, but I think England is a good candidate, but there will be some very good contenders and we’re not yet definite of that but I’m sure our executive committee will follow my proposals.”