Chief stokes World Cup fire

Bin Hammam: Influential figure

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Asian football chief Mohamed bin Hammam believes the race to host the 2018 World Cup is wide open.

While the Asian Football Confederation president would always back a country from his own continent to host the event, he can also see the attractiveness of a bid from England as the 'birthplace of modern football.'

Fifa's controversial rotation policy has now been scrapped which means there is a growing belief that the showpiece event will return to Europe after being staged in South Africa in 2010 and Brazil in 2014.

England, along with Spain, Portugal and Russia, are among European nations to have expressed an interest, but there is also a strong intention to take the World Cup back to Asia once again, with Australia the frontrunners, while China and Qatar have also made some soundings.

With both Mexico and the United States other associations who are keen to host the showpiece, Fifa decided bids for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments will run in parallel, with the final vote taken in June 2011.

Bin Hammam, who also sits on Fifa's executive committee, believes there are several nations in with a chance, including England.

Support

He said: "Although I would always support any bid coming from Asia as an obligation, I think England would have fairly good chances.

"We all feel, in general, that every three times [12 years] the World Cup has to come to Europe.

"England does have positive points - they are the birthland of modern football and have hosted the World Cup once, and that was more than 40 years ago."

Bin Hammam added: "However, maybe there are also some other countries who have positive points also.

"Any good bid will have a chance to win. They have to convince the people. It is more of a public relations business."

Qatar national Bin Hammam feels having the World Cup back in Asia, following the success of joint-hosts Japan and South Korea in 2002, would once again galvanise the region.

Serious bidder

He said: "Qatar's bid is only speculation, so far I have only seen one serious bidder, which is Australia.

"They came forward and said 'we want to host the World Cup in 2018', and I am definitely very much in support of them and for the World Cup to take place in Asia again after 2002.

"We have seen the positive impact of the World Cup when it was organised in Asia in terms of reviving the interests of the people, especially those who are involved in governing the football.

"Having the World Cup again in Asia would have a very positive impact.

"I support an Asian bid, and that is going to be much easier for me and my colleagues on the committee if only one bid comes from Asia, that would be an advantage."