Blatter Cool on English 2018 World Cup Hopes

England's Football Association's strategy for securing the 2018 World Cup was undermined yesterday by Fifa's president, Sepp Blatter, who cast doubt on England's prospects within hours of his re-election.

 

With a decision on how future tournaments are awarded due in November, the FA's strategy is to lobby for an end to the current rotation system, under which the World Cup would not come back to Europe until 2026, in favor of a system that ensures every third tournament is staged in Europe.

 

The strategy has considerable support from leading figures including Danny Jordaan, the chairman of the South Africa 2010 organizing committee, not least because the majority of the game's revenue is generated in Europe.

Blatter rejected the idea. "My opinion is that there should be a rotation of the World Cup," he said. "If there is rotation it should be a total rotation and not go back to Europe every third time. Why should it?

 

Our partners do not care where the tournament is held . . . and with all respect to Europe, which is a powerful football continent, I am not sure they are as powerful as all regions."

His stance poses the first test of Geoff Thompson's new role as a Fifa vice-president. The position potentially gives the FA chairman great influence and England an advantage, but overturning the will of a president emboldened by re-election will not be easy. Fifa's executive committee will vote on the issue in November.