United States has outside shot to host World Cup in 2010

LONDON (Ticker) - The United States still has a chance to host the 2010 World Cup, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Monday.

South Africa is due to stage the tournament in three years but there have been reports of delays in construction, bringing the possibility that the tournament will be unable to be staged there.

The sport’s world governing body remains confident all facilities will be ready in time but Blatter feels FIFA needs to keep options open.

Asked if England or Australia were fallback options should the South African organisation falter, Blatter said, “Yes, but there are other countries ready to organise tomorrow morning or in two days, or two months, a World Cup.

“The United States of America and Mexico, they can do it, Japan, they can do it. They have enough stadia. You say England can do it, and I am sure. Spain, they can do it. There are a lot of countries, but they don’t need to be ready.”

The 2003 women’s World Cup was successfully switched to the United States because of the SARS respiratory virus in China.

“We understand South Africa remain on course to host the 2010 World Cup, and there have been no discussions with FIFA regarding England possibly hosting the tournament,” a spokesman for the English Football Association said.

“However, should there be requirements for any contingency planning, we believe England has some of the finest stadia in the world and the football infrastructure which could host the 2010 World Cup at short notice, if asked by FIFA.”