The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Sydney

Asia's football chief Mohamed bin Hammam has urged just one Asian bid to maximise the confederation's chances of hosting the 2018 World Cup.

Australia has indicated its interest in hosting the tournament after South Africa (2010) and Brazil (2014), while there have also been reports of China considering a bid.

But bin Hammam cautioned against conflicting Asian bids in the face of opposition from England, a joint bid by Belgium and the Netherlands, Mexico, Russia, Uruguay and Argentina. The winner will be announced in 2011.

"We will be fighting as a confederation to host the 2018 World Cup," bin Hammam, president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), told reporters in Australia today.

"Ideally, it would be good to have just the one bid," he said.