FIFA have opened the door for bids for the 2018 World Cup by ending rotation of the tournament, according to the world governing body's vice-president Chung Mong-Joon.
FIFA's executive committee unanimously agreed to scrap the system of rotating the World Cup between tournaments, the Korean told reporters today.
England, Russia, China, Australia and USA or Mexico, and possibly a Benelux joint bid from Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg are expected to enter the race to host the competition.
Under the current rotation system, the World Cup went to Africa for 2010 (South Africa won the contest), South America for 2014 and if rotation continued would go to a country from north and Central America or the Caribbean in 2018.
However FIFA President Sepp Blatter was concerned that only one country - Brazil - bid for 2014 and said last week that he favoured a change.
