Fifa are thought to be considering plans to overhaul their
policy of rotating the World Cup between different continents in a move
that could have implications for an English bid for the 2018 tournament.
That is the news emerging from the sport's world governing organisation
ahead of a meeting of the executive committee in Zurich in two weeks,
reports the BBC.
According to the corporation sport's editor, Mihir Bose, the existing
strategy could be replaced with one in which only the last two continents
to host the tournament are deemed ineligible for hosting the next tournament.
This would mean that a European country, notably England, could be in
line to bid for the 2018 tournament, with South Africa's 2010 event ruling
out Africa's participation and South America set for the 2014 World Cup.
"New bidding for 2018 opens the door for England," explained
Bose.
Europe, Asia or Oceania would all be potential candidates for the 2018
showpiece event, with English football fans eager to reprise the success
of Euro 96.
The staging of the 2012 Olympics in London could also have a positive
impact, with the investment in infrastructure potentially improving any
bid.
Gordon Brown, Britain's prime minister, has already signalled his backing.
Earlier this year Mr Brown said it would be appropriate for "the
nation which gave football to the world" to stage the sport's biggest
tournament.
However, any formal bid appears to be some way off, with the FA likely
to consider its options carefully before launching any campaign to bring
the tournament to England.
World Cup bidding is a notoriously fickle affair, with the machinations
involved in garnering support for a bid from the respective associations
a lengthy and complex process.
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26 September 2007
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