FIFA defers decision on continental rotation rule

FIFA President Sepp Blatter. (Anja Niedringhaus/AP)

ZURICH — FIFA has deferred a decision on potentially limiting which continents can bid to host the 2026 World Cup.

FIFA’s executive committee met Monday and had the option of blocking bids from confederations which hosted one of the two previous tournaments.

The panel meets again on Saturday.

As Russia will host the 2018 World Cup, the rule could exclude Europe from 2026 bidding. The United States, Canada and Mexico are likely candidates.

FIFA says the executive committee decided that the 2026 host will be chosen on May 10, 2017, by its congress of member federations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The panel approved humanitarian relief grants of $450,000 to the Vanuatu federation after a cyclone in March, and $200,000 to Mozambique after recent flooding.

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