TOKYO, Dec 20: FIFA President Sepp Blatter called England a ‘strong candidate’ to host the 2018 World Cup but said he expects the bidding process to be fair and highly competitive.

“England is a strong candidate because it is a strong country in football,” Blatter said on Saturday after FIFA’s executive committee wrapped up two days of meetings.

“They are strong but there are other candidates that are strong as well, Spain is also strong and if you look at all the candidates, you see that the fight is open.”

FIFA’s executive committee confirmed that a simultaneous bidding process will be opened for both the 2018 and the 2022 World Cups. Interested countries will be able to submit applications for either the 2018 or the 2022 World Cups, or for both tournaments.

Bid registration forms will be sent to countries in January 2009 and the two hosts will be decided in December 2010.

The 2010 World Cup will be held in South Africa. Brazil will host the 2014 World Cup.

Along with England, the confirmed bidders to host the 2018 World Cup are Australia, Qatar and Russia plus joint bids from Belgium/Netherlands/Luxembourg and Spain/Portugal. China, Japan, Mexico, the United States and Canada had also flagged possible bids.On the subject of a British football team taking part in the 2012 London Olympics, Blatter said that a single team representing Great Britain would not affect the existing individual status of the four British football associations.

The idea of a single team for Great Britain was opposed by the Scottish football association for fear it would set a precedent forcing the British teams to combine in FIFA competitions.

Blatter said that the British associations will be invited to determine whether they wish for such a team to participate in the 2012 Olympics and present a proposal to FIFA’s executive committee in March 2009.

Also at the meetings, FIFA agreed to lift suspensions on Kuwait, Samoa and Peru.

Blatter described football’s financial position as ‘comfortable’ but said the current economic crises is bound to effect the game.

“Everybody is concerned,” said Blatter. “It’s like a tsunami, a tsunami has different waves and football will be touched by those waves. Clubs will be touched, then countries then continents so we have to have solidarity so we can help those who are most affected by this crises.”

Meanwhile, Australian football’s governing body said it was encouraged by FIFA’s decision to allow simultaneous bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The decision means that should a bidder for 2018 be unsuccessful then it would be able to enter the vote for 2022 to be held immediately afterwards, so long as the 2018 hosts are not from the same continent.

“This is a welcome decision from FIFA,” Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley said in a statement on Saturday.

“Hosting the world’s biggest sporting event in Australia would be a wonderful opportunity for Australia and for the Asian region.” FIFA also announced it would make a decision on the hosts for both tournaments in December 2010.

“This is very exciting news also,” Buckley said.

“All of us involved in the bid to bring the World Cup to Australia are encouraged by this decision.

“We look forward to the support of all Australians –– whether at home or living overseas –– as we count down to decision day which is now only two years away.

“Bidding for the World Cup, and winning it, is an investment which will pay dividends for the entire nation and generations to come.” Australia’s bid has been boosted by its federal government this month agreeing to spend 30 million US dollars to back their campaign.

Australia has hosted two Olympic Games, in Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney eight years ago, but it has never staged a football World Cup.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said other countries to express an interest included Japan, China, Qatar, Mexico, the United States and Russia, “even perhaps Canada”.

Spain could lodge a bid in conjunction with Portugal, he added, while Belgium and Holland are considering joining forces.—Agencies