With results of the vote expected on Thursday, William Hill make South Africa 10-11 favourites ahead of England at 5-2 with Germany 3-1, Morocco 14-1 and Brazil 33-1.
Said Graham Sharpe, spokesman for the firm: "The furore over the behaviour of England's fans during Euro 2000 has now made it impossible to make an accurate assessment of their chances of winning the right to stage the World Cup.
"They could still be 5-2 - but they may be 500-1."
After taking bets for over two years on who will win the right to stage the World Cup 2006, UK betting firm William Hill have finally closed their book ? just days before the FIFA executive committee finally votes on who will stage the tournament.
