2018 FIFA World Cup

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The 2018 Football World Cup will be the 21st edition of the FIFA World Cup. Bidding to host the 2018 World Cup will close in 2010. Despite expectations to the contrary, FIFA will not necessarily continue with their policy of rotating the right to host the World Cup amongst the different confederations. This policy would have seen the 2018 World Cup being held in either North America (CONCACAF) or Oceania (OFC). However, in an interview with The Sun-Herald the head of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, said:

"The World Cup is a very serious matter. There will be good contenders for 2018. The rotation system only goes until 2014. The rotation was a political decision to ensure the World Cup went to Africa, otherwise Africa would never have it."^[1]

Countries that have announced their interest include Australia,^[2] England,^[3] Mexico,^[4] the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg (joint bid).^[5]

1 Australia
2 China
3 England
4 Mexico
5 Netherlands and Belgium
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Australia

In late May 2006, the Victorian sports minister, Justin Madden, said that he wanted his state to drive a bid to stage the 2018 World Cup. While Australia has nine modern stadia suitable for the World Cup already built, no official statement has been made about the possible location of the last venue. The Victorian sports minister was quoted as saying "If FIFA is serious about growing the game in the Asia-Pacific region, then the time can't be too far away where they need to move into the region", and "Where else would they put it but Australia?"^[6] Football Australia have confirmed that Australia will bid for the 2018 World Cup finals.^[7]

After Australia's draw against Croatia (which qualified Australia for the second round of the 2006 World Cup, facing eventual champions Italy), both NSW & South Australian premiers Morris Iemma and Mike Rann expressed their interest in putting a bid forward for the finals in 2018 and announced their intention to put the proposal forward at the next meeting of the Council of Australian Governments.^[8] Victoria Premier Steve Bracks spoke up as well and reaffirmed what his sports minister said in 2005, saying he supported the submission and any bid for the event should be a national effort. The Victorian Premier made it clear the finals should be hosted by his state - "If there was a World Cup to be held here we would play a significant part because of our major events capacity," he told reporters in Melbourne.^[9]^[10]

Australia hosted the OFC Nations Cup twice (1998, and 2004), and four-way co-hosted once (1996). Australia has also enjoyed success hosting other major sporting events recently, with the 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sydney, the 2003 Rugby World Cup, and the 2006 Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne.

[edit] China

China will be hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2010 Asian Games so they would have more experience in hosting major sporting events then. China had previously hosted the 1991 Women's World Cup and will be hosting the event again in 2007.

Blatter believed that "[he has] confidence in Chinese football," while FIFA officials had suggested that China's growth as an economic super power makes the country a firm favourite to stage the next World Cup in Asia.

[edit] England

England has also announced interest in hosting the event, after London's successful bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Chancellor Gordon Brown and Sport Minister (DCMS), Tessa Jowell, announced they were to take the first step towards bidding to host the 2018 World Cup on 18 November 2005.^[11]

Wembley, the new 90,000 arena set to be home of the England team.

England hosted the 1966 World Cup, and has hosted the European Championship once (1996). If successful, England would become one of the few nations to organise two World Cups. Sepp Blatter has said he would welcome a 2018 bid from "the homeland of football". Other countries in the United Kingdom are said to be interested in hosting matches if England win the bid.^[12] However, this may not be possible as FIFA have already announced that joint bids will not be allowed.

Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium, opened 2006

David Will vice-president of FIFA told the Press Association in April 2006:

"I would think England would have a very strong bid. The English bid for 2006 was much stronger than appeared from the pattern of voting but so much has changed since then anyway."

On 2 November 2006, the British government said that they would back a bid for the 2018 World Cup. Richard Caborn, The Sports Minister said that he has no doubt and Lennart Johansson said: "We would certainly support such a project."

[edit] Mexico

Mexico has shown interest in hosting the tournament. Mexico hosted the 1970 World Cup and 1986 World Cup, has co-hosted the Gold Cup twice (1993, and 2003), and has hosted the Confederations Cup once (1999).

[edit] Netherlands and Belgium

In an interview on 6 July 2006, the president of the Dutch Footbal Organisation Jeu Sprengers (also secretary of UEFA) said that the Dutch Football organisation is positive about a joint bid. Bid president Alain Courtois, who was also a leader of the organisation committee for Euro 2000 (also jointly hosted between the two), has announced that a formal bid will be put forward in January 2007.^[5]

However, FIFA have stated recently that joint hosting will not be permitted in the future so it is unlikely that this bid will come to fruition. Even so there were several signals in early 2006 that the Belgian and Dutch Football Organisations are seriously considering a joint bid to host the 2018 World Cup.