FIFA president wants 2018 World Cup in Asia
FIFA president Sepp Blatter wants the 2018 World Cup to go to Asia instead of the United States or Europe.FIFA will decide later this year whether to continue its policy of rotating continents for the soccer showcase.
The 2014 World Cup will be held in South America, with Brazil the only candidate.
While North America would be next in line, Blatter said he considers North and South America as one continent. That would mean the 2018 championship would go to Asia.
“Personally I think that we should maintain a rotation,” Blatter told the “Inside Sport” television program to be broadcast Monday on the BBC. “At least with four continents. To take North and South America as one continent, Europe, Africa and Asia.
“This would mean that the next World Cup after 2014 would go to Asia.”
The United States, which hosted the World Cup in 1994, plans to bid for 2018. The British government says it would back a bid by England, which hosted the 1966 championship.
Japan and South Korea co-hosted the 2002 edition, the first time the World Cup went to Asia. Australia joined the Asia confederation after the 2006 World Cup in Germany and would be a likely 2018 candidate.
South Africa will host the 2010 World Cup, becoming the first African country to stage the event.
UEFA president Michel Platini is pushing for the 2018 World Cup to be held in Europe.
Blatter, unopposed in his bid for a third term as FIFA president, is expected to be re-elected later this month through 2011. In the BBC interview, he hinted he would support Platini as his successor.
“There are other candidates, but I think this is a possibility,” Blatter said. “Because he now has a career as a footballer, he was co-president of the organizing committee of the 1998 World Cup, he is a vice president of French Football, he is on the executive of FIFA and UEFA, and now president of UEFA.
“I think it is something which has a certain logic going forward.”
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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