England considers bid for 2018 World Cup

The British government has held preliminary talks with the English Football Association about a possible bid for the 2018 World Cup finals.

A government spokesman said yesterday that exploratory discussions with the FA had taken place and these talks "may go beyond preliminary discussions at some stage".

"We want to look at the chances of winning," Sports Minister Tessa Jowell said yesterday.

"There were many people who thought we couldn't bid for the Olympic Games, we shouldn't do that. We went ahead, we won so I think things look set very fair for a World Cup bid but no decision, no final decision, has yet been taken by the FA."

With the 2006 finals being held in Germany, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2014 finals likely to be staged in Brazil, the 2018 competition represents the next available opportunity for a European country to bid for the event, although it is not yet certain to come to Europe.

FIFA uses a continental rotation system for the finals which are not due to return to Europe until 2018 at the earliest. However, Oceania are also considering a bid to stage the finals in 2018.

That situation is complicated by Australia moving from the Oceania confederation to Asia this year and an Oceania World Cup without Australia would be an unrealistic option.

FIFA would most likely make a decision on the 2018 finals in 2012.

England has hosted the World Cup once before, in 1966, when Bobby Moore captained the home team to victory.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said recently he would be open to a World Cup bid following Britain's success in winning the right to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

"If you think you have a shot at these things then have a go, that's my attitude," he said. "We did the Olympics - I frankly didn't think we would win when we started, but we did."

Brian Barwick, the FA's chief executive, noted in September that the prospect of England hosting the 2018 World Cup had been welcomed by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

"Obviously, a World Cup in this country would be a fantastic occasion and every English football fan would love to see the world's best players gracing our stadia," he said. "But at this stage the deadline for a 2018 bid is still several years away."

England last put a bid together for the 2006 World Cup. Its chances of success were hurt by political infighting with UEFA who gave their backing to Germany.

The last major soccer event to take place in England was the European Championship in 1996.