FIFA Report -- 11 Countries Interested in 2018/2022; Bahraini Challenges for Chief

FIFA President Sepp Blatter marvels at the number of quality applications the federation has received for 2018/2022. (Getty Images)FIFA Impressed With Quality of 2018/2022 Contenders

World football governing body FIFA has received a total of 11 expressions of interest from nations wanting to host the 2018 and/or 2022 World Cup tournaments.

The member associations that have confirmed interest in hosting the FIFA flagship tournament are: Australia, Belgium and the Netherlands, England, Indonesia, Japan, Korea Republic, Mexico, Qatar, Russia, Spain and Portugal, and the USA.

“It is remarkable that so many high-quality contenders have expressed an initial interest in hosting our flagship competition,” FIFA President Sepp Blatter says.

“Our world is one that is rich in natural beauty and cultural diversity, but also one where many are still deprived of their basic rights, or have to deal with the daily realities of conflict.

“FIFA now has an even greater responsibility to reach out and touch the world, using football as a symbol of hope and integration.”

Blatter says the worldwide economic crisis has brought another dimension of uncertainty into the lives of many people around the world but football has an extraordinary power to unite people and inspire emotions of hope, passion and joy.

“This is even more true when it comes to the FIFA World Cup, a truly global competition,” he adds.

“For this reason, FIFA has asked the potential bidders to ensure that this power of football is used to urge solidarity and achieve positive change in the world. An opportunity to contribute to making a difference to people's lives, in line with our claim: For the Game. For the World.”

Blatter says FIFA is keen to ensure fair play prevails in the bidding process. For this reason, the FIFA Ethics Committee will be monitoring developments.

The next stage in the process will require bid registration forms to be distributed in mid-February to the 11 associations that have expressed interest in bidding.

Member associations who register will then be provided with a legally-binding ‘Bidding Agreement’ which is required to be submitted by Dec. 11.

Bahraini in Bid to Unseat Asian Football Boss

Asian Football Confederation President Mohamed Bin Hammam is facing an unprecedented challenge to his reign after the football chief in Bahrain launched a bid to unseat him from the FIFA executive committee. Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa of Bahrain announces his intention to run for Asian Football Confederation president. (Getty Images)

Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa says his candidacy is not part of a hostile move against the powerful Qatari.

Al Khalifa says it is his ambition to become a decision-maker with world soccer's governing body.

“My interest in football is bigger than you can believe and I have a huge love of the game. I don't want this to be seen as a challenge to Bin Hammam,” Al Khalifa told news agency Reuters.

“I believe in letting democracy in Asia take its course in a healthy environment and I want to put myself forward for this position.”

The Bahraini says he has no plans to run for the AFC presidency.

It is the first challenge for Bin Hammam since he won the FIFA seat in 1996. It is understood defeat could seriously undermine his position as AFC president, a post he has held since 2002.

Bin Hammam has recently been attacked over his plans to move the AFC headquarters out of Kuala Lumpur where it has been based for 43 years.

Ties with close friend Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president, also appear to have strained in recent months.

In what appears to be a response to the Al Khalifa candidacy, the AFC has proposed four new amendments to its statutes including one making the AFC president one of several FIFA vice presidents from Asia.

The AFC congress will vote on that, and the four Asian places on the FIFA executive committee, in May.

Al Khalifa can only contest the West Asian seat held by Bin Hammam.

Capello Throws Support behind English Bid

Coach Fabio Capello has thrown his support behind the English bid to stage the 2018 World Cup finals tournament.

The prized tournament has been held in England once before, when it won the title in 1966, and the Italian says it is time it returned.

“England is a fantastic place for the World Cup,” Capello says.

“Football needs to be back in England after a lot of years and I hope it will be here in 2018 because we need another time, the World Cup. I think England needs, football needs (it) back home.” FIFA will issue a commemorative DVD to celebrate 50 years of African football. (FIFA)

FIFA Celebrates 50 years of African football

Setting the scene for the first African World Cup finals tournament in South Africa next year, and to mark the 50th anniversary of the Confederation of African Football, FIFA has released an encyclopaedia of football on the continent.

The information is contained in a box set of five DVDs, detailing the rich footballing history of Africa. FIFA has decided to make the digital treasure trove of written, photographic and video information available on its Web site, FIFA.com.

The historical archives have been painstakingly compiled, categorized and edited by the Tunisian journalist Faouzi Mahjoub.

The collection comprises no fewer than 7,000 documents, 2,000 photos, hundreds of press cuttings, exclusive interviews and the best goals scored by African teams at the FIFA World Cup.

“We want to celebrate the memory of the figures who form part of this history and preserve it for fans who are too young to remember what were unforgettable times,” FIFA President Sepp Blatter says.

“This tribute also gives us an opportunity to show our support for a continent with tremendous potential.”

Written by Anthony Stavrinos

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