UK won't host 2018 or 2022 Finals

FA 'not interested' in staging the World Cup finals of either 2018 or 2022

By Odunayor 

The Football Association has made it clear they would not be interested in hosting the final stages of either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup competitions, should Russia or Qatar be stripped of their responsibilities.

The FA’s new chief executive Martin Glenn made the comments on Friday as the corruption scandal currently engulfing FIFA continues to gather pace.

One of these involves the FA of Ireland who admitted this week they were 'paid off' following the France-Ireland play-off match in Paris, where the hosts progressed to the final stages following a controversial handball incident.

The FAI have said they were paid money – initially in the form of a loan – in return for not taking the case to court.

There have also been concerns about the 2010 bidding processes that culminated in Russia and Qatar being awarded the World Cup finals of 2018 and 2022 respectively.

And although it has been mooted in the media that England could step in and host either of these events, the national association have now refuted this idea.

Glenn, who took over as chief executive three weeks ago, said the FA had 'no intention' of organising either finals.

He pointed out: “We’re not interested. It (2018) has gone to Russia in good faith. They’ve not had a World Cup, so why shouldn’t they play there?

“And 2022 was never going to be in Europe, so it should be outside of Europe. We support the World Cup being dispersed around the world.”