FIFA abandons World Cup rotation
FIFA has dropped its policy of rotating the World Cup between continents, opening the way for England to bid to stage the tournament in 2018.
The Football Association said the news was "very encouraging" and said there was a strong case for England to bid.
Chief executive Brian Barwick said: "It is exactly what we were hoping for and we will now discuss a timetable for a potential bid."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said an FA bid would have full government support.
"I am delighted that Fifa have opened the door for the World Cup to come back to England," he said. "By 2018, it will be 52 years since England hosted the World Cup.
"The nation which gave football to the world deserves to have the greatest tournament back on these shores.
"With the Olympics in 2012, possibly the Commonwealth Games in 2014, the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and the Cricket World Cup in 2019, a Football World Cup in 2018 would crown what I believe can be the greatest decade ever for British sport.
"If the FA decide to go ahead and bid for the tournament, they know they will have the full support of the government behind them, and we will make it our mission to persuade other countries to back us in bringing the World Cup back to England."
Fifa boss Sepp Blatter indicated there has been widespread interest in hosting the 2018 World Cup.
He said: "Already we have a bunch of big, great candidates."
These include the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg who have made a joint offer to host the event, while China, Australia, Mexico, the United States, Russia and Spain have also expressed interest.
Countries belonging to confederations that hosted the two preceding tournaments are barred from applying.
For 2018, that would rule out bids from Africa or South America, with South Africa hosting the tournament in 2010 and Brazil poised to be confirmed as 2014 hosts this week.
FIFA has dropped its policy of rotating the World Cup between continents, opening the way for England to bid to stage the tournament in 2018.
The Football Association said the news was "very encouraging" and said there was a strong case for England to bid.
Chief executive Brian Barwick said: "It is exactly what we were hoping for and we will now discuss a timetable for a potential bid."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said an FA bid would have full government support.
"I am delighted that Fifa have opened the door for the World Cup to come back to England," he said. "By 2018, it will be 52 years since England hosted the World Cup.
"The nation which gave football to the world deserves to have the greatest tournament back on these shores.
"With the Olympics in 2012, possibly the Commonwealth Games in 2014, the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and the Cricket World Cup in 2019, a Football World Cup in 2018 would crown what I believe can be the greatest decade ever for British sport.
"If the FA decide to go ahead and bid for the tournament, they know they will have the full support of the government behind them, and we will make it our mission to persuade other countries to back us in bringing the World Cup back to England."
Fifa boss Sepp Blatter indicated there has been widespread interest in hosting the 2018 World Cup.
He said: "Already we have a bunch of big, great candidates."
These include the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg who have made a joint offer to host the event, while China, Australia, Mexico, the United States, Russia and Spain have also expressed interest.
Countries belonging to confederations that hosted the two preceding tournaments are barred from applying.
For 2018, that would rule out bids from Africa or South America, with South Africa hosting the tournament in 2010 and Brazil poised to be confirmed as 2014 hosts this week.
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