Despite the widespread belief that FIFA will select a European country to host the 2018 World Cup, officials are claiming that the field is open to bidding countries from all areas. FIFA head Sepp Blatter has stepped back from an earlier proposition that only European countries would be considered to host the 2018 tournament.
"I said it's a possibility only if other associations do not bid. It is not a decision for the executive committee to change that right of every association to bid for a World Cup.
"But the movement to go to Europe exists."
World Cup 2018 still open despite European pressure-FIFAReuters
January 29, 2010
