FIFA scrap World Cup rotation - Report

FIFA have opened the door for England to bid 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 on Monday.

England are likely to face a number of other strong challengers however including Russia, China, Australia and USA or Mexico, and possibly a Benelux joint bid from Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg.

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.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter had confirmed a decision to take the 2018 World Cup off the rotation system was likely to be agreed at a meeting on Monday.

Blatter told Sky News: "I do hope so that on Monday evening we have made the decision that for the 2018 World Cup the market will be an open market with the exception naturally of that continent that will organise it in 2014 in South America."