England start as favourites for 2018

Published on Monday 2 February 2009 23:08

ENGLAND have started the race to host the 2018 World Cup as early, if unwilling, favourites among the competing nations.

The deadline for expressions of interest to be delivered to Fifa arrived yesterday with 11 countries involved, including South Korea who caused a major surprise by entering the contest at the last moment.

Egypt have also announced they will be bidding but under Fifa's system of rotating the tournament between different continents they can only go for the 2022 World Cup.

Bidding for both 2018 and 2022 will be a simultaneous process with both winners being announced in December 2010.

The uncertainty over whether joint bids will be allowed has given the England bid something of a flying start – their strongest rivals include the joint campaign planned by Spain and Portugal.

Fifa's executive committee will not decide until 19 March whether to change their rules to permit joint bids.

The contenders are: England, Spain/Portugal, Russia, Netherlands/Belgium, USA, Mexico, Australia, Japan, Qatar, Korea and Indonesia – plus Egypt for 2022.