FIFA, football’s world governing body, is considering selecting the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups at the end of 2010 to allow more time for major infrastructure work, Reuters reports.
FIFA General Secretary, Jerome Valcke, told the news service that South Africa's rush to complete the construction work needed to host the 2010 World Cup was proof more time was needed by future hosts.
"We have already had a discussion within FIFA around the possibility of designating both the 2018 and 2022 hosts at the same time. We will start the 2018 bidding process early next year and expect to make a decision by December 2010," he said. "We feel seven years is the minimum time you need for a country to build all the infrastructure they need to host a World Cup."
South Africa was picked as host of the 2010 finals in May 2004, giving the country just over six years to prepare. The country is building six new stadiums and renovating four, rebuilding airports and investing massively in upgrading its road and rail networks with many of the projects expected to be finished just one month before the final.
