FIFA announced yesterday that the World Cup rotation policy, from continent to continent (introduced in the year 2000), would end from 2018; to avoid situations like the single candidature of Brazil (for 2014).

"The World Cup 2018 is open to all national associations of the continents that have not organised the two last World Cup. It means, then, for 2018 Africa can not be and South America can not also," announced Sepp Blatter, to the largest media gathering for a FIFA announcement.

The 2018 World Cup is therefore open for Europe, Asia and CONCACAF. It would also be open to Oceania but it has not been identified where in Oceania the World Cup could be held.

Besides England (where Sepp Blatter had just met the Prime Minister of 'Great Britain'), there are other European candidates: a combined bid from Netherlands and Belgium (as in the Euro 2000 European Championships).

Interest has also been shown from China, Australia, Mexico and the USA.

We have not yet played the 2010 World Cup, not yet attributed the 2014 World Cup (coming today) and yet there are already six candidates showing an interest for the 2018 World Cup; and there could be more.

It was also announced that the Kuwait Football Federation had been suspended, with immediate effect, for not applying and implementing decisions taken twice by the AFC and FIFA Executive Committee.

Receiving questions from the gathered journalists in the auditorium, Sepp Blatter naturally had to answer them on the 2018 end of rotation decision first.

Paul Kelson of The Guardian:
"What measures would be introduced to insure a fair and clean clean fight for the 2018 bids, and that the Committee members would fight fair?"

Sepp Blatter:
Trying to be fair and transparent, the Chairman of the FIFA Ethics Committee would overlook the bid process, not only from the side of the FIFA Executive but also to have a look at the bidders. Because 'when there is some arrangements in life, even in a marriage, two are always involved'.

There was then concern from a Sao Paolo journalist that FIFA might establish a system (a little bit like - but not comparing it to - the Olympic Committee) where there would hardly be a chance for perhaps a poorer country to host a World Cup when you have (for example) China, United States and England in the same bid?

Removing his headphones and scratching the back of his head, Sepp Blatter said he understood the question but not the comparison with The Olympic Games; where only big cities can bid, and only big cities can obtain, The Olympic Games.

Having insured (in the first part of the rotation) that at least Africa can have the World Cup once and that South America would have the World Cup, the market would now be open but without bidders from the past two continents.

But to organise a World Cup with 32 teams a smaller country would have difficulties to deliver all the guarantees necessary for the organisation of such an event.

However, FIFA do have other competitions available for smaller countries - New Zealand and Chile for the Women's World Cup; U17, U20; Indoor Football; Beach Soccer - a lot of possibilities for smaller countries to organise FIFA competitions.

In answer to Martin Ziegler, of the Press Association, about the timescale of bidding for the 2018 World Cup, Sepp Blatter tried some mental arithmatic (and stumbled).

The FIFA president said that they should finally decide (who the winning candidate is) in 2011 (using the current seven-year plan, up from six) and need at least two years to make the necessary approaches to candidates.

So that would be 2010 (correction, 2009). Add a year for the candidates; then, on the spot, Sepp Blatter finally put a provisional schedule 'on the desk' of 'next year' (2008); or rather, 'tomorrow' - for candidates to start their bidding process.

With a chuckle, the FIFA President motioned to his left and said that maybe the General Secretary would change it later.

David Bond, of The Daily Telegraph wondered if, with the more competitive bidding process for a World Cup than ever before, perhaps a mini-bidding competition (to whittle down the numbers) so that only 'say four or five countries' could bid in the final round had been discussed.

Such a scenario had not been discussed nor had, as had been questioned in the room (Sepp motioned his finger around), "if in one Confederation their can only be one bidder?"

The FIFA President clarified that bidders are not Confederations but National Associations and that all National Associations have the right to bid.

But if there would be ten or eleven bids, then obviously there would have to be a pre selection; 'otherwise it would not be possible'. Like they do it in The Olympics (in this case).

Technorati: World Cup, 2018