England in running to host 2018 World Cup

The Football Association received the news it had been eagerly anticipating yesterday when Fifa decided to end its short-lived policy of rotating the World Cup venue, opening the door for England to stage the tournament in 2018.

Had rotation of the tournament between continents been maintained, the World Cup would almost certainly have gone to the Concacaf region of north and central America, scuppering English hopes of hosting it for the first time since lifting the trophy in 1966.

The widely anticipated move to open up bidding to all continents apart from Africa and South America, hosts in 2010 and 2014 respectively, was no surprise. Having introduced rotation mainly as a tool to get the tournament to Africa after South Africa missed out in 2006 despite his personal backing, the Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, came under increasing pressure to scrap the system once Brazil had the field to itself for 2014 when Argentina and Colombia pulled out.

The 2018 campaign looks set to be the fiercest ever, with a string of potentially dangerous rivals taking on England. Australia and China, neither of whom has hosted the event, are each expected to mount a strong campaign, as is Concacaf, who would put up either the United States, hosts in 1994, or Mexico.

More alarmingly, England would not be the only contender in Europe. Within hours of Fifa's decision, the Benelux nations became the first to announce officially that they would be jointly bidding.

Russia, awarded this season's Champions League final, are seriously considering throwing their hat into the ring as well, encouraged by the upset victory of Poland and Ukraine who will stage the 2012 European Championship. Europe may have the biggest block on Fifa's 24-strong executive committee, with eight members, but the Russians could split the European vote just as Germany did when kicking England's doomed 2006 bid into touch.

Nevertheless, the FA chairman Geoff Thompson, a Fifa and Uefa vice-president, gave a thumbs-up after Fifa's ruling was confirmed. An English bid is expected to have the full weight of government support and Thompson said: "We welcome the decision made by the Fifa executive committee and will now consider our position," adding that the matter would be discussed at the association's next board meeting tomorrow.

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said in a statement: "I am delighted that Fifa have opened the door for the World Cup to come back to England. By 2018, it will be 52 years since England hosted the World Cup. The nation which gave football to the world deserves to have the greatest tournament back on these shores. With the Olympics in 2012, possibly the Commonwealth Games in 2014, the rugby World Cup in 2015 and the cricket World Cup in 2019, a Football World Cup in 2018 would crown what I believe can be the greatest decade ever for British sport."

The rotation principle received vigorous support from Fifa's chief American power broker, Chuck Blazer, the general secretary of Concacaf. Blazer proposed a motion whereby the policy would be extended up until 2018, but gained hardly any backing from other Fifa members. He was not in any mood to give ground, however.

"We have absolutely every confidence that any bid coming from our region would be the best bid," Blazer said. "We have every reason to win it on merit. You need 13 votes to win out of 24. Either Mexico or the United States will make a better candidate than England."

After meeting the Prime Minister last week during a brief visit, Blatter said he would welcome a bid "from the motherland of football". But he warned England would face stiff opposition. Asked yesterday how Fifa would ensure a fair voting process given so many past political shenanigans, he disclosed Fifa's recently established ethics committee, chaired by Lord Coe, would oversee the process.

Six of the best? The countries who could challenge England for the right to host global football's showpiece

* China

Popular destination with Fifa's president, Sepp Blatter, who heaped praise on the country's handling of this summer's women's World Cup. Hosts of next year's Olympics, which will be a major test of China's organisational ability and infrastructure. Size of economy and population offer significant marketing opportunities.

Population: 1,321,851,888.

Registered players: 711,235.

Best World Cup: 2002 – rd 1.

Current biggest stadium: Guangdang Stadium 80,012.

* Australia

Held a highly successful Olympics in 2000 as well as 2003 Rugby World Cup. Current Fifa policy means only one city may have two stadiums, and that all other cities are restricted to one World Cup venue. Under this policy, at least one of the major stadiums in either Sydney or Melbourne could not be used.

Population: 20,434,176.

Registered players: 435,728.

Best World Cup: 2006 – last 16; lost to Italy.

Current biggest stadium: Telstra Stadium 83,500.

* Russia

Russian effort being masterminded by Minister of Sport Slava Fetisob, who is already reported to be signing up international bid experts. The fact that the southern city of Sochi has been selected to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games site shows how far Russia has come on the sporting map in recent years.

Population: 141,377,752.

Registered players: 846,736.

Best World Cup: 1966 – 4th.

Current biggest stadium: Luzhniki Stadium 84,745.

* United States

The US has made it clear it will stay in the race despite the end of rotation. From a commercial standpoint, the 1994 tournament was a success even though "soccer" failed to take off as Fifa hoped. Nevertheless, the country probably has more large, modern stadiums than any other country.

Population: 301,139,947.

Registered players: 4,186,778.

Best World Cup: 1930 - 3rd.

Biggest stadium: (MLS) Poplar Point Stadium 27,000.

* Mexico

Mexico have plenty of experience, becoming the first nation to stage the World Cup twice in 1986. Mexico made a lot of friends with their displays at Germany 2006 and are the only footballing nation in the region capable of staging the event. Whether Fifa would want a three-time host is a different matter.

Population: 108,700,891.

Registered players: 324,595.

Best World Cup: 1970, 1986 – quarter-finals.

Current biggest stadium: Azteca 110,260.

* Benelux

Belgium and the Netherlands, who co-hosted the European Championship in 2000, joined by Luxembourg, who would host a Fifa congress but no matches, and would not be given automatic qualification for the event.

Total population: 27,443,061.

Registered players: 1,614,743.

Best World Cup: Belgium 1986 - 4th; Netherlands 1974, 1978 – finalists; Luxembourg – never qualified.

Current biggest stadium: Amsterdam ArenA 51,324.