AUSTRALIA'S slim hopes of hosting the 2018 World Cup were dealt a massive blow when Europe threw its support behind England.
Lennart Johansson, the UEFA president, has pompously declared that Europe should stage every third World Cup and England should get it in 2018.
"The next time the event might be back in Europe would be 2018," Johansson said.
"This idea (of every third World Cup to be held in Europe) has the support of the other confederations
."England have not had the World Cup since 1966 and I know that there is great interest to support such a project."
The next World Cup in 2010 takes place in South Africa and Brazil is favoured to stage the following event.
So it appears Australia has an uphill "Ashes" battle with a formidable foe on its hands as it tries to snare the world's biggest sporting event, assuming its bid is endorsed by the Asian confederation, of course.
China, with its vast population, is believed to be interested in holding the event, which will come only two years after the Beijing Olympics.
The idea of having every third World Cup in Europe is not new but it's the first time UEFA has officially backed the concept.
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FIFA's rotation system, whereby its six confederations earn the right to hold the sport's major event, was scrapped for 2014 but will be revisited for 2018.
President Sepp Blatter said: "It doesn't matter as much any more where it's held from a commercial point of view because it is the world's biggest event.
"Once it reaches every continent and every corner of the world, that's all that matters." |
