Blatter: Japan could keep Cup

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has suggested Japan could continue to host the FIFA Club World Cup in a bid to further establish the competition on the international calendar.

The Japanese hosted the event for the second year in a row this week and are due to hold the 2007 edition as the final part of a three-year agreement with FIFA. Stadium attendances plus the number of nations broadcasting the games on television have increased significantly and Blatter is keen for a solid base to continue to develop the competition's status.

"I have to say Japan has put the bar high now with the second edition with the number of spectators but also the quality of organisation, so now it's difficult for someone else to come in to organise in 2008," he said.

"We have to look at a kind of rotation system, but we must also make sure that the success of this competition must be anchored somewhere. Why not here in this country?

"We know that there are already proposals or options or requests from other countries and the first one we received was from Mexico, but no decision has been taken and first of all we must ensure the success of the Club World Cup.

"The organisation of the competition will be open to all FIFA affiliated associations, but at this time we must stress we have to give the competition value as a competition and then you can consider rotating this around the various confederations."