Soccer: Blatter backs Europe for 2018

Sepp Blatter will support efforts to stage the 2018 World Cup in Europe, a move that will greatly enhance England's chances of hosting the tournament.

The Fifa president prefers a Europe event rather than North America, China or Australia, say senior Fifa sources.

He is ready to support an alliance of key powerbrokers in the game's governing body from outside Europe who will lobby for it to host 2018.

England and Russia are regarded as the only European contenders.