World Cup Rotation Ends In 2018
As
from 2018, the hosting of the FIFA World Cup will
cease to be rotated.
Under the chairmanship of President Joseph S.
Blatter, the FIFA Executive Committee unanimously
passed a decision to abandon the principle
(originally introduced in the year 2000) of rotating
the men's World Cup from continent to continent. The
confederations whose associations have hosted the
two preceding World Cups will not be eligible to
bid.
Consequently, all the associations from Asia, North
and Central America and the Caribbean, Oceania and
Europe may bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
One of the reasons for changing the rotation
principle was the fact that only one candidate,
Brazil, bided for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and was
awarded.
The executive stated explicitly that eligibility to
host the World Cup should no longer be restricted to
the rotation principle as it was also in FIFA's
interests to maintain true competition among several
candidates. The provision regarding the exclusion of
bids from associations belonging to the two previous
host confederations will require an amendment to the
FIFA Statutes at the 2008 FIFA Congress.
”The rotation principle has served its purpose and
has enabled us to award our most prestigious
competition to Africa for the first time and,
depending on tomorrow's decision, to South America
for the first time in many years,” FIFA president
Sepp Blatter commented.
”Since several associations from different
confederations have already declared their interest
in bidding, the FIFA executive came to the
conclusion that as from 2018 the bidding procedure
should once again be open to all continents, except
those parts of the world that have hosted the two
previous tournaments.”
Africa
In the medium term, FIFA's focus is on the 2010 FIFA
World Cup in South Africa. The next step along the
way will be the preliminary draw in Durban on 25
November 2007. The day before, the match schedule
for the final competition will be presented to the
FIFA organising committee for approval.
In Africa, the World Cup preliminary competition
will also serve as the qualifying competition for
the Africa Cup of Nations 2010. After consulting all
of the confederations, additional international
match dates were approved for 2008, in accordance
with the international match calendar.
Strategy
Furthermore, the question of ticket sales for South
Africa 2010 was discussed. It is intended that the
associations qualified to take part will now be
allocated 12% (previously 8%) of purchasable tickets
for the group matches of the finals whereas the
allocation for the knockout stages will remain at
8%.
Since the 2006 FIFA World Cup, FIFA has reassumed
responsibility for ticket sales and will establish a
company named "2010 FIFA World Cup Ticketing Ltd" to
this end.
In addition, on account of the distances involved, a
programme for tour operators will be launched to
enable certified and authorised companies to offer
combined ticket and travel package deals.
FIFA/YINKA