Blatter Wants To End World Cup Rotation

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has confirmed that he wants to abolish the football
governing body’s rotation system for hosting the World Cup – a major boost to
England’s bid to stage the 2018 tournament.

Under the existing system, the World Cup is scheduled to rotate between each
of the world’s major footballing continents, meaning that North America or
Oceania would have been next in line for 2018.

South Africa has already been named as the host for 2010 while 2014 is
heading to South America with Brazil the sole confirmed candidate.

However Blatter has now admitted that the system is not working.

‘I am advocating we open the market. We are not in a very comfortable
situation in South America. We only have one bidder. It is better to have three
or four associations trying to get the number one competition of the world.’

Brazil have not been formally awarded the 2014 tournament yet, but are
expected to get the green light from FIFA subject to the country’s stadiums
being deemed appropriate.

By changing the rotation system however, Blatter would ensure that European
nations would be free to challenge for the 2018 tournament.