Japan eyeing 2022 WC bid

Blatter delivers World Cup bid advice during Zurich meeting

Last updated: 4th May 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Japan eyeing 2022 WC bid

Blatter: Delivered advice

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Japan are set to focus on bidding for just the 2022 World Cup finals after being told that the 2018 tournament will be held in Europe.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter delivered the advice during a meeting in Zurich on Monday with the country's sports minister Tatsuo Kawabata and Japan Football Association chief Motoaki Inukai.

His advice comes as the tournament is being held outside of Europe for the next two editions - in South Africa this summer and then in Brazil in 2014.

Speaking after the visit to Fifa headquarters, Inukai told Japanese media: "It looks as if, after all, Fifa wants to take the World Cup back to Europe in 2018.

Wisest choice

"We were told by president Blatter that European countries would be involved in a fierce tussle for 2018 and that aiming for 2022 would be the wisest choice."

Japan's decision is set to be formally announced following a bidding committee meeting on 11th May.

Fifa will name the host countries for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in December, with Qatar and South Korea so far set to bid for the 2022 edition only.

England are currently bidding for both along with Russia, the USA and Australia while Spain/Portugal and Netherlands/Belgium are making joint bids.