USA Drop Out Of 2018 Bid as England withdraw from 2022 Bid
England have withdrawn from the contest to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, following news that the United States of America ended their bid to stage the 2018 incarnation.
England's emphasis will now be exclusively on 2018, which will now undeniably be held in Europe.
This is due to FIFA laws that the World Cup cannot be held on the same continent on two consecutive times.
The United States of America had been the last non-European bidders left behind in the race for 2018 FIFA World Cup after Australia's withdrawal in summers.
However, their verdict to pull out of the 2018 World Cup bidding means that, by default, England are no longer entitled to bid for the 2022 competition.
Sunil Gulati, Chairman of the United States of America bid committee said:
"For some time we have been in conversations with FIFA and UEFA about the possibility of focusing only on the 2022 bidding process.
"We are confident this is in the best interests of the USA bid. We wanted to make the announcement now - still 48 days before the final decision - in order to make our intentions clear during the last part of our campaign. This also enables FIFA to finalise the selection procedures during its upcoming scheduled executive committee meeting."
FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said: "We have had an open and constructive dialogue with the USA bid for some time now, after it became apparent that there was a growing movement to stage the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Europe.”
"The announcement by the USA bid to focus solely on the 2022 FIFA World Cup is therefore a welcome gesture which is much appreciated by FIFA."
A statement from the England bid team read: "England 2018/22 today confirmed to FIFA that it was withdrawing its candidature from the FIFA World Cup 2022 and will now focus on its bid to host the tournament in 2018.
"This followed consultation with UEFA president Michel Platini on the most appropriate moment to withdraw.”
"England 2018 is delighted it is now clear that the FIFA World Cup will be coming to Europe in 2018 following the withdrawal of the United States bid."
England and Russia remain as the favourites for hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup, along with joint bids by Belgium/Holland and Spain/Portugal.
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