FIFA have opened the door for England to bid for the 2018 World Cup by ending rotation of the tournament, Football Association chairman Geoff Thompson confirmed on Monday.
Thompson, who is also a FIFA and UEFA vice-president, welcomed the decision.
Members of the FA board will now decide on the next steps at a meeting on
Wednesday but the Government have already made it clear they are very keen on a
bid.
Speaking at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, Thompson said: 'We welcome the
move from the FIFA executive committee. The FA will now consider their position
and we also welcome the support we have had from the Government.'
FIFA's executive committee unanimously agreed to scrap the system of rotating
the World Cup between tournaments, and the only restrictions for 2018 is that
countries from Africa and South America will not be able to bid as their
continents are hosting the finals in 2010 (South Africa) and 2014 (Brazil).
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.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said last week he was concerned that only one
country - Brazil - bid for 2014 and because of that he favoured a change.
FA chief executive Brian Barwick called the news 'very encouraging' and said
there was a strong case for England hosting the World Cup in 2018.
Barwick said: 'While we are still to confirm if we will launch a bid to host
the 2018 World Cup, today's news is very encouraging. It is exactly what we were
hoping for and we will now discuss a timetable for a potential bid.
'We have already received tremendous support from Prime Minister Gordon Brown
and the Government, and we all recognise the importance of government support in
any bidding process.
'The successful campaign which saw London awarded the 2012 Olympic Games has
already shown what can be achieved.
'We realise there will be strong competition involved in any bidding process,
but we know that England has fantastic stadiums, a unique tradition and passion
for the game and also a very strong infrastructure already in place.
'I have always said that when the World Cup is next played in Europe, there
is a very strong argument for holding it in England.
'If we do bid, and England is awarded the 2018 World Cup, I'm sure it would
be brilliant for English football and the whole country.'
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: 'I am delighted 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.
'If the Football Association decide to go ahead and bid for the tournament,
they know they will have the full support of the Government behind them, and we
will make it our mission to persuade other countries to back us in bringing the
World Cup back to England.'
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: 'I am delighted 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.
'If the Football Association decide to go ahead and bid for the tournament,
they know they will have the full support of the Government behind them, and we
will make it our mission to persuade other countries to back us in bringing the
World Cup back to England.'
