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FIFA president Sepp Blatter backs rule to keep 2026 World Cup out of Europe

FIFA president Sepp Blatter wants a rule on World Cup hosting that would prevent Europe from bidding for the 2026 tournament.

The FIFA executive committee could agree this month to block continental confederations from bidding for the next two World Cups after hosting.

"It should be this way," Blatter told reporters on Friday, adding that the proposal is "more than an option."

Because Russia will host in 2018, a UEFA country would next be eligible for the 2030 World Cup. Russia defeated a bid from England and joint bids from Spain and Portugal as well as Netherlands and Belgium for 2018.

South Korea, Japan and Australia all bid for the 2022 World Cup given to Qatar, but as members of the Asian Football Confederation they would have to wait until 2034 to host.

The United States, who also bid for 2022, is expected to bid for the 2026 tournament alongside CONCACAF neighbours Canada and Mexico. The North American region has not hosted the World Cup since the U.S. in 1994.

African and South American countries as well as New Zealand and their OFC neighbours would also be eligible to bid for 2026.

FIFA has said it will choose the 2026 host in May 2017. A shortlist of three candidates can first be presented by the executive committee.

The FIFA executive committee is scheduled to agree on the bid regulations at meetings in Zurich this month.

In a further hint at World Cup changes, Blatter pointed to increasing the number of intercontinental playoffs to give confederations more chances to qualify teams for the 2018 tournament in Russia. Blatter also said he wanted the World Cup to remain a 32-team tournament under his leadership.

Blatter has long encouraged smaller regions to seek more guaranteed places, potentially at the expense of Europe's 13 qualifying slots in the 32-team lineup. Currently, the playoffs do not involve European or African teams.

"That is a good idea and you are not so far away,'' Blatter said. "This gives a little bit more incentive."

The executive committee meets on May 24-25 and again on May 30, the morning after the presidential election. The May 30 meeting will confirm the allocation of 2018 World Cup qualifying slots open to each confederation.

Blatter also said he will travel to meet Israeli and Palestinian government leaders next week, seeking to calm tension between their soccer federations before this month's FIFA congress.

Blatter says he will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Tuesday, saying he is sure "Netanyahu would not receive the FIFA delegation if he would not be ready to make concessions." Blatter says he will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Wednesday.

Israeli security restrictions limiting movement of Palestinian players, visiting teams and soccer equipment has provoked a proposal to suspend Israel from world soccer at the 209-nation FIFA meeting on May 29. Blatter opposes the suspension vote, saying Israel has not broken FIFA statutes in a political issue outside of soccer's control.

Also on Friday, Blatter wrote a letter to FIFA members outlining his plans for the future.

Blatter's goals included promotion of women's football, increased anti-discrimination efforts, protecting players' health and battles against match-fixing.

He also pledged to "consolidate our relationships with our business partners" and "strengthen the position of professional football at FIFA."

Blatter added: "Let us forge ahead together in accordance with our slogan, 'Develop the game, touch the world and build a better future' -- but we must also make sure that this is not mere wishful thinking."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.