"There is a certain trend or tendency towards a 'yes' but it is a 'yes, but...', a conditional yes," Blatter told a news conference when asked what FIFA thought of the idea.
"There is also another proposal which would allow referees to wear adverts on their sleeves and shoulders during domestic matches. Both proposals will be discussed in depth later."
Blatter said adverts would "definitely not" be allowed on team shirts during the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea and suggested he was personally opposed to the idea.
"In my opinion, when we play the national anthems to identify the pride of a national team before a match, such a team should not wear adverts on their shirts."
Asked about North Korea's possible co-hosting of the World Cup alongside South Korea and Japan, Blatter said the ball was not in FIFA's court.
"We cannot take the first step on this," he said. "FIFA's door regarding such a solution is open until December 2001 when we have the draw for the tournament."
Blatter said FIFA officials had also fixed dates for next year's Confederations' Cup and the World Club Championship.
The Confederations Cup will take place in Japan and South Korea from May 30-June 10 and will serve as "a dress rehearsal for the 2002 World Cup".
The two Asian nations will host continental champions France, Brazil, Cameroon, Australia and Canada and 1999 champions Mexico.
FIFA rejected a proposal to expand the controversial World Club Championship to 16 teams from 12.
The competition will be held from July 29-August 12 in Spain. A Spanish side, ideally this season's league champions, will join one team from Oceania and two each from Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and North America.
Next year's world under-20 championship will be staged in Argentina and the under-17 tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.
China will host the 2003 women's World Cup and FIFA will initiate a women's under-19 tournament in 2002 to be played every two years.
"As I said six years ago, the future of football is feminine," Blatter said.
Reuters
Soccer's world governing body FIFA said on Sunday it was open to the idea of sponsors names on national team shirts but insisted they would not be allowed at the 2002 World Cup. FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the association's executive had discussed the idea at an end-of-year meeting in Rome but wanted to examine it further before making a decision.
