England shows intent to host 2022 FIFA World Cup

LONDON: England would be ready to host the Fifa World Cup in 2022 if Qatar is stripped of the elite event, a British government minister told the House of Commons today.

Swiss and US authorities are looking at corruption claims around the bidding processes for the 2018 and 2022 events as the crisis around FIFA builds up.

UK Sport Secretary John Whittingdale said England has the facilities but added it is unlikely to happen as Russia is staging the 2018 tournament and under FIFA rules the Cup cannot be held on the same continent twice in a row.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Whittingdale said, "If FIFA came forward and asked us to consider hosting it, we have the facilities in this country and of course we did mount a very impressive, if unsuccessful, bid to host the 2018 World Cup."

"In terms of the decision to hold the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, that is obviously something which we are watching, but at the moment that decision stands.

"If it were decided to change that, I think as the chairman of the English FA Greg Dyke observed, if Russia hosts the World Cup in 2018 it does seem very unlikely that another European country would host it in 2022."

Prime Minister David Cameron has backed Whittingdale's comments but said his priority is "cleaning up" FIFA.

The shock resignation of FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Tuesday has intensified calls for the 2022 bidding process to be re-run, if that process is proved to have been corrupt.

Qatar organisers have always denied any corruption in their bid.