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The United States has announced its withdrawal from the race to host the 2018 World Cup. The USA had been in the running to stage either the 2018 or 2022 competition, but has now decided to focus solely on the latter.
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USA will now focus its attention on 2022
The decision means there will definitely be a European host in eight years' time, with England and Russia remaining in the running along with joint bids by Belgium/Holland and Spain/Portugal.
With FIFA statutes preventing two successive World Cups being held in the same continent, the race for the 2022 tournament will now be between Australia, Japan, South Korea, Qatar and the USA.
Chairman of the United States bid committee, Sunil Gulati, today said: "For some time we have been in conversations with FIFA and UEFA about the possibility of focusing only on the 2022 bidding process, an option we have made reference to many times. We are confident this is in the best interests of the USA bid.
"We wanted to make the announcement now - still 48 days before the final decision - in order to make our intentions clear during the last part of our campaign. This also enables FIFA to finalise the selection procedures during its upcoming scheduled executive committee meeting.''
That meeting will take place in Zurich on October 28 and 29. FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said: "We have had an open and constructive dialogue with the USA Bid for some time now, after it became apparent that there was a growing movement to stage the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Europe.
"The announcement of today by the USA bid to focus solely on the 2022 FIFA World Cup is therefore a welcome gesture which is much appreciated by FIFA.''
The United States decision means England's bid for the 2022 World Cup has been withdrawn, a formality given that the tournament will go to a non-European country, and its focus will now be on competing to host in 2018.
A statement from the England bid team said: "England 2018/22 today confirmed to FIFA that it was withdrawing its candidature from the FIFA World Cup 2022 and will now focus on its bid to host the tournament in 2018.
"This followed consultation with UEFA president Michel Platini on the most appropriate moment to withdraw. England 2018 is delighted it is now clear the FIFA World Cup will be coming to Europe in 2018 following the withdrawal of the United States bid.''
GettyImagesUSA will now focus its attention on 2022
The decision means there will definitely be a European host in eight years' time, with England and Russia remaining in the running along with joint bids by Belgium/Holland and Spain/Portugal.
With FIFA statutes preventing two successive World Cups being held in the same continent, the race for the 2022 tournament will now be between Australia, Japan, South Korea, Qatar and the USA.
Chairman of the United States bid committee, Sunil Gulati, today said: "For some time we have been in conversations with FIFA and UEFA about the possibility of focusing only on the 2022 bidding process, an option we have made reference to many times. We are confident this is in the best interests of the USA bid.
"We wanted to make the announcement now - still 48 days before the final decision - in order to make our intentions clear during the last part of our campaign. This also enables FIFA to finalise the selection procedures during its upcoming scheduled executive committee meeting.''
That meeting will take place in Zurich on October 28 and 29. FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said: "We have had an open and constructive dialogue with the USA Bid for some time now, after it became apparent that there was a growing movement to stage the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Europe.
"The announcement of today by the USA bid to focus solely on the 2022 FIFA World Cup is therefore a welcome gesture which is much appreciated by FIFA.''
The United States decision means England's bid for the 2022 World Cup has been withdrawn, a formality given that the tournament will go to a non-European country, and its focus will now be on competing to host in 2018.
A statement from the England bid team said: "England 2018/22 today confirmed to FIFA that it was withdrawing its candidature from the FIFA World Cup 2022 and will now focus on its bid to host the tournament in 2018.
"This followed consultation with UEFA president Michel Platini on the most appropriate moment to withdraw. England 2018 is delighted it is now clear the FIFA World Cup will be coming to Europe in 2018 following the withdrawal of the United States bid.''
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