The host countries of future World Cups will be decided by all of Fifa’s 208 member associations, Sepp Blatter has revealed.
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The Fifa president confirmed that all of Fifa’s members will vote for their preferred country from a short-list drawn up by the executive committee, the 24-man board previously in charge of deciding the tournament’s hosts.
“I want to give more power to the national associations,” said Blatter in his address at the Fifa congress.
“In the future the World Cup will be decided by the Fifa Congress. The executive committee will create a shortlist – but will make no recommendations only a list – and the congress will decide on the venue.”
Earlier, Blatter admitted that Fifa faces a struggle to restore its reputation, with the governing body having been hit by relentless waves of corruption allegations.
“We have been hit and I personally have been slapped. We have made mistakes and we will learn from this,” he said.
“I can say to a certain extent that this is a good warning, not just to look into our problems and I am willing to face the public anger in order to serve football.
“I am the captain weathering the storm, this is a difficult period for Fifa and I admit that readily. Not only is the pyramid shaking but our ship has drawn some water.
“We must do something because I do not want ever again that we face this undignified situation.”