England And Russia Lead 2018 Race

The race to host the 2018 World Cup is likely to boil down to a showdown between England and Russia according to speculation linked to senior FIFA sources.

Seven countries, including the USA, China, Spain and Australia, may join the battle to win the bidding race, but FIFA chiefs are believed to have made it clear they want that the tournament  to return to Europe in 10 years’ time despite abandoning the continent-by-continent rotation system.

The battle is set to boil down to a straight fight between England and the Russians, with the key to victory being the ability to persuade FIFA’s ruling executive committee of the long-term benefits the winning bid can give to the global game.

FIFA feels that an economically secure tournament, played in European time to increase the value of television contracts, will be required after World Cups in South Africa in 2010 and then Brazil four years later.

To ensure this, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has received approval for the decision on the venues for both 2018 and 2022 to be taken together in Zurich in three years’ time.

A highly-placed FIFA insider is quoted as saying: ‘In 2018, it will be Europe. It has to be. After that it will be the turn of Asia or North America, maybe, but 2018 will be time to go back to Europe after the success of Germany 2006.

‘England are a strong contender. They have a far better case than they did for 2006, when they were never going to win. And while Spain and the joint bid of Holland and Belgium will be there as well, the real competition for the FA is from Russia.’

The English bid is aided by the relatively small size of the country, compared to the vast distances between cities in Russia, although the financial investment being made by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and other investors means it will be a tight contest.

England’s chances will be boosted by the positive impression new FA chairman Lord Triesman has made with FIFA bosses.