Football might actually be coming home… (Picture: Metro.co.uk)

England are the 11/10 favourites to host the 2018 World Cup amid speculation that Russia and Qatar could be stripped of the tournaments.

Calls for a re-vote on the hosting rights for the 2018 and 2022 competitions have intensified after a number of senior Fifa officials in Zurich were arrested this morning on corruption charges.

Fifa has so far refused to entertain the idea that the tournaments could be re-allocated, with their director of communications Walter de Gregorio stating that ‘the World Cups in 2018 and 2022 will be played in Russia and Qatar’.

The World Cup final could be played under Wembley’s arch (Picture: AFP)

The bidding process is set to come under intense scrutiny, though, with United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch stating that ‘the indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic and deep-rooted’.




If a new vote were to happen, England would be favourites to host it, with its infrastructure and readiness to host the tournament at short notice a major factor in its appeal.

Bookmakers Paddy Power have installed England as 11/10 favourites to host the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with a joint Portugal and Spain bid second favourite at 5/4.

Qatar were surprisingly awarded the 2022 World Cup five years ago (Picture: AP)

The 2022 World Cup is less likely to be awarded to England should Qatar be stripped of it though, with latest odds suggesting that the United States and Australia are higher up the pecking order.

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