Blatter wants end to World Cup rotation

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has opened the door for bidding for the 2018 World Cup - by announcing he wants to end rotation of the finals between different continents.

Blatter has been hinting for many months that he is in favour of opening up bidding for the 2018 tournament - and the world governing body's president has now confirmed it.

A decision is expected to be taken by FIFA's executive committee later this month, ending the current rotation system that secured the 2010 finals for Africa - South Africa won the bid - and 2014 for South America, where Brazil were the only bidders.

Blatter told BBC's Football Focus: '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.'

Blatter's view will come as a blow to the CONCACAF federation of countries from north and central America and the Caribbean, who would have been the next in line under rotation.

England, Russia, China, Australia and the USA or Canada are likely candidates for 2018.