(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-11-08 21:46

TOKYO - Japan's Football Association has decided to set up a committee to look into the possibility of bidding for the 2018 World Cup following FIFA's decision to end its continental rotation policy, local media said on Thursday.

FIFA decided last month to drop its policy of rotating the hosting of the World Cup through its six continental confederations, opening up bidding for the 2018 tournament from all countries except those in Africa and South America.

"It is difficult to say whether Japan could bid for the 2018 World Cup but it is worth letting the world know that it is something we are going to look into," Japan FA chief Saburo Kawabuchi was quoted as saying by the Kyodo news agency.

England's Football Association said last week it will bid to host the 2018 tournament while Belgium and Netherlands have also confirmed they would make a joint bid.

Australia are also expected to enter the race while China, Mexico and the US have also expressed an interest.

Japan, which co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with South Korea, has set a goal of hosting and winning a World Cup by 2050.