Japan Football Association president Saburo Kawabuchi has shown interest in bidding for the 2018 World Cup following FIFA's decision to end its continental rotation policy.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter speaks at a news conference in Zurich on Monday. FIFA voted to end its policy
of rotating the host nation of the World Cup among its six continental confederations.
AP PHOTO"It has become possible for Japan to host the World Cup (in 2018) and we would like to hold discussions with the parties concerned in order to decide our direction on the matter," Kawabuchi said late Monday.
FIFA has dropped its policy of rotating the hosting of the World Cup between continents, throwing open the race for the 2018 tournament with countries outside Africa and South America having been given realistic chances.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter said Monday that England, China, Australia, the United States and Mexico are already interested in hosting the 2018 World Cup while the Netherlands and Belgium want to submit a joint bid.
Japan cohosted the 2002 World Cup with South Korea before the tournament went to Germany in 2006.
South Africa has been awarded the 2010 World Cup and Brazil is the only candidate for the 2014 event.