A 2018 World Cup in England would be a low risk event while high temperatures at 2022 matches in Qatar could endanger players' health, the ruling body FIFA said on Wednesday, DPA reported.
FIFA published its evaluation report on the nine bidders for the two events, saying that Russia face a major transportation challenge and the US need more government guarantees.
The report comes after FIFA inspectors visited all bidders earlier in the year. It is designed to help the FIFA executive committee when it elects the two hosts on December 2 in Zurich.
England, Russia, Portugal/Spain and Belgium/Netherlands are aiming for the 2018 World Cup. Qatar and the US are joined by Japan, South Korea and Australia as 2022 bidders.
The final countdown has been overshadowed by British newspaper allegations that two FIFA executives offered to sell their votes to undercover newspaper reporters. A final verdict on the fate of the two, who are currently suspended, was expected later Wednesday or Thursday.