World Cup rotation ends in 2018

FIFA Executives voted Monday in Zurich to scrap its continental rotation policy for the World Cup, a decision that throws the race for the 2018 tournament wide open.

As from 2018, the hosting of the FIFA World Cup™ will cease to be rotated. Under the chairmanship of President Joseph S. Blatter, the FIFA Executive Committee unanimously passed on Monday a decision to abandon the principle (originally introduced in the year 2000) of rotating the men's World Cup from continent to continent. The confederations whose associations have hosted the two preceding World Cups will not be eligible to bid, however. Consequently, all the associations from Asia, North and Central America and the Caribbean, Oceania and Europe may bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™.

One of the reasons for changing the rotation principle was the fact that only one candidate - Brazil - is still in contention for the 2014 FIFA World Cup that is due to be awarded tomorrow, Tuesday, 30 October 2007. The executive stated explicitly that eligibility to host the World Cup should no longer be restricted to the rotation principle as it was also in FIFA's interests to maintain true competition among several candidates. The provision regarding the exclusion of bids from associations belonging to the two previous host confederations will require an amendment to the FIFA Statutes at the 2008 FIFA Congress.

"The rotation principle has served its purpose and has enabled us to award our most prestigious competition to Africa for the first time and, depending on tomorrow's decision, to South America for the first time in many years," commented Blatter.

"Since several associations from different confederations have already declared their interest in bidding, the FIFA executive came to the conclusion that as from 2018 the bidding procedure should once again be open to all continents, except those parts of the world that have hosted the two previous tournaments."

England's Prime Minister Gordon Brown said an FA bid would have full government support.

"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," Brown told the BBC.

In the medium term, however, FIFA's sights are set on the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The next step along the way will be the preliminary draw in Durban on 25 November 2007. The day before, the match schedule for the final competition will be presented to the FIFA organising committee for approval.

In Africa, the World Cup preliminary competition will also serve as the qualifying competition for the Africa Cup of Nations 2010. After consulting all of the confederations, additional international match dates were approved for 2008, in accordance with the international match calendar.

Furthermore, the question of ticket sales for South Africa 2010 was discussed. It is intended that the associations qualified to take part will now be allocated 12% (previously 8%) of purchasable tickets for the group matches of the finals whereas the allocation for the knockout stages will remain at 8%. Since the 2006 FIFA World Cup, FIFA has reassumed responsibility for ticket sales and will establish a company named "2010 FIFA World Cup Ticketing Ltd" to this end. In addition, on account of the distances involved, a programme for tour operators will be launched to enable certified and authorised companies to offer combined ticket and travel package deals.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.