September 01, 2007	Saturday	Sha’aban 18, 1428

MONTE CARLO, Aug 31: FIFA is expected to propose Olympic-style bidding for future World Cup finals following a landmark review by soccer’s governing body of how its showpiece event is awarded, sources said on Thursday.

As part of the shake-up to be unveiled in October, bidding for the right to host the multi-billion dollar tournament will be opened up to all regions across the globe from 2018, ending FIFA’s rotation policy.

“There will be a slight twist, however, in that the previous two regions or continents to host the finals will not be allowed to bid,” one source close to the talks said. “So, say for 2018, South America and Africa nations would not be allowed to bid, but countries from every other region could. The new idea is based on the bidding for the Olympics which generates more excitement and interest.”

South Africa will stage the finals in 2010, while Brazil is expected to be confirmed in November as host for the 2014 event under the rotation policy.

“The fact that Brazil is the only bid has woken FIFA up,” a FIFA source said. “It realises the commercial benefits and revenue which can be gained by having such a wider bidding competition, particularly by its associations through sponsorship and backing without even being awarded the finals. This has been lost for 2014.”

The move is also seen as a way of appeasing UEFA. Under the traditional system, a European country was awarded the event every three cycles.—Reuters