TOKYO (AP) — Japan has pulled out of bidding for the 2018 World Cup, electing instead to focus on competing for the 2022 event.
Japan initially put itself forward as a candidate to stage either of the World Cups but has opted to only bid for the 2022 World Cup following meetings with FIFA.
Japan Football Association president Motoaki Inukai told Tuesday’s Sports Hochi newspaper it appeared FIFA is set on staging the 2018 World Cup in Europe.
Japan co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with South Korea.
FIFA is voting Dec. 2 on who will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The current bidders for either of 2018 or 2022 are: England, Russia, the United States, Australia plus joint bids from Spain-Portugal and Netherlands-Belgium. Qatar, South Korea and now Japan are only in the 2022 race.
