Several other countries are capable of hosting the 2010 World Cup if South Africa isn’t ready, Fifa president Sepp Blatter says.
The United States, England, Japan, Spain, Mexico and Australia would all be ready to step in, Blatter told the BBC’s Inside Sport programme to be broadcast on Monday night.
Blatter said he is confident South Africa will host the tournament, but that Fifa has contingency plans in place in case of organisational delays.
Asked whether England or Australia were possible back-ups, Blatter said: ”Yes, but there are other countries that are ready to organise tomorrow morning or in two days, or two months, a World Cup.
”The United States of America, and Mexico, they can do it; Japan, they can do it. They have enough stadia. You say England can do it, and I am sure. Spain, they can do it. There are a lot of countries, but they don’t need to be ready.”
South Africa was picked by Fifa in 2004 as the first African country to stage the World Cup. Concerns over venue construction, security and other issues have raised doubts over whether the country will be ready. — Sapa-AP