Fifa president Sepp Blatter on Tuesday singled out England as a potential World Cup 2018 host but said other countries from Asia, Europe and the Americas also had a good chance.
"England as a country are strong (in football). They generate a lot of advertisements and publicity. They do not need to build new stadiums. They have 10 to 11 stadiums," he told reporters here.
"But don't forget China too. They also have a lot of stadiums. But the race is still open. There is keen interest. It is going to be a good race," he said.
Blatter is in Malaysia to attend the Asian Football Confederation's Women's Player of the Year award late Tuesday.
The Fifa president last month encouraged England to bid for the World Cup in 2018 following a meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London.
England lost out to Germany for last year's World Cup and are eager to bring international football's top event to the country for the first time since 1966, when the hosts gained their only triumph in the competition.
Blatter said Australia, China, Japan, Holland, Belgium, Mexico and the United States have all put their hands up for the 2018 tournament.
"Australia has been discussing for the 2018 bid since 2000. Definitely, there are a lot of candidates. It is great," he said.
Fifa, football's world ruling body, last month announced the end of its rotation policy for the hosting of the four-yearly World Cup.
However Fifa's six continental confederations voted to maintain the rule that "countries belonging to confederations that hosted the two preceding tournaments are barred from applying."
South Africa, the hosts in 2010, were the first beneficiaries of the rotation policy, which was introduced in 2000.
Brazil will stage the 2014 World Cup in South America. Fifa is expected to decide on the 2018 host in 2012.
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